Police recover a firearm owned by George Pattison, who was found dead with his wife and daughter.
Image source, John WildgooseThe head teacher of Epsom College was shot dead by her husband, before he killed their daughter and took his own life with the same gun, police believe.
George Pattison, who had a gun licence, is believed to have killed Emma Pattison and seven-year-old Lettie at the family home in school grounds.
Mrs Pattison made a distressed call to a family member some time late on Saturday evening, the BBC understands.
By the time the relative arrived, all three were dead.
Surrey Police, which is investigating, is due to give more information later today.
Mr Pattison’s gun licence had been recently updated.
The BBC has been told that Surrey Police made a routine phone call to the 39-year-old chartered accountant in the days preceding the killings, because the details of his new home address needed to be checked.
It is understood that the couple was not known to Surrey Police.
The force has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, the BBC understands this was a matter of routine.
Post mortem examinations are expected to take place later this week.
Mrs Pattison was appointed the first female headteacher of Epsom College five months ago. She has been praised for her dedication and inspirational leadership.
Prior to working at Epsom, Mrs Pattison spent six years as the head teacher of Croydon High School in south London.
Mr Pattison was a chartered accountant who was director of a management consultancy firm called Tanglewood 2016, according to Companies House.
In December, Mrs Pattison told a podcast run by students that her move had been “a really big change for my family”, adding: “I’ve got a new job, my husband got a new job, which wasn’t meant to happen, but did, and my daughter has started a new school.”
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