Man charged with the murders of two women at their home in St Leonards
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A 35-year-old man has been charged with the murders of a mother and daughter at their home in St Leonards, Sussex, police have confirmed.
Heather Whitbread, 53, and her daughter Michelle Savage, 32, were gunned down on Friday evening.
Heather's 24-year-old daughter Raven, who is pregnant with a baby girl, is thought to have been led from the property to safety by firearms officers following the incident.
She and another woman - who was also led from the house in Bexhill Road- were taken to hospital, police said. They were uninjured but suffering from shock.
(Image: PA)
(Image: PA)
Police this evening charged Craig Savage, 35, with the murders. Investigators have previously confirmed that the suspect was known to the victims.
In a statement, released through Sussex Police after their deaths, the women's relatives said: "Heather and Michelle were both beautiful people that filled our family with laughter.
"They were both special, generous and kind people who loved life, but most of all their family.
"They will both be sorely missed leaving a gap that can never be filled.
"We now just wish to be left to grieve in private as a family."
(Image: PA)
Armed cops swarmed on the quiet seaside town just before 8pm on Friday. Several roads were locked down in the wake of the shooting, which police said was "not a random act".
After emergency crews descended on the scene, firearms officers led two women - believed to include Raven - to safety from the house, before they were hospitalised with shock.
Sussex Police said: "Officers responded immediately to a report of the shooting at 7.43pm.
"Firearms officers were able to lead two other women, one of whom is pregnant, from the house to safety and they were taken to hospital. Both were uninjured but suffering from shock."