A former March man who shot dead his wife and daughter before turning the gun on himself in a shooting outside Spalding leisure centre has been called one of the funniest people you could meet.
Lance Hart lived and went to school in March but had moved to Lincolnshire with his wife and children.
The 57 year old father of three opened fire on wife Claire, 50, and their 19-year-old daughter Charlotte in the Castle Sports Complex swimming pool car park on Tuesday morning (19) before shooting himself.
Reports say the couple had recently separated and Mr Hart was struggling to come to terms with it.
They leave two sons Ryan, 25, and Luke, 26.
People in the Fens have paid tribute to the man they knew as a popular, larger than life character, a kind hearted soul who always raised a laugh.
A friend who knew him from his teenage years and early 20s when he lived in March said he was: “One of the funniest guys you will ever meet.
“It is one of those times you read something then have to stop to take it in, mainly because you would not put him to something like this.
“I liked him a lot. He consistently worked because I think he wanted to retire in his 50’s.”
Another drinking buddy from his years in March, said: “If you were in the pub and Lance walked in you knew you were in for a good laugh, he was a great bloke.”
Another said: “I would just like to remember Lance as the big guy with a huge heart.”
Lance lived in Wimblington and March before moving to the outskirts of Wisbech St Mary and then Moulton near Spalding.
Following the incident workmen and leisure centre staff raced to save Charlotte and her mother by giving them CPR as they lay on the ground at about 9am but they could not be saved.
Mr Hart was already dead when paramedics arrived.
Armed police raided the family’s four bedroom home in nearby Moulton where they had lived for about seven years and where there is a sold sign outside the property.
Charlotte, who friends on social media have described as a dog lover who dreamed of owing hundreds of rescue dogs, was studying at the University of Northampton but was home for the summer holidays.
Mum Claire worked at the local Morrisons.
A police spokesman said: “Clearly, a situation such as this for a small community like Spalding is hard to comprehend.
“We are working alongside colleagues from the East Midlands Major Crime Team in order to provide answers around what has happened.
“We really need your help so I would encourage anyone with information to contact us on 101, quoting incident number 92 July 19.”
East Midlands Ambulance Service said: “Despite the best efforts of everyone at the scene, the patients were pronounced dead. This is a tragic incident and our thoughts are with the friends and families of those involved.”
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said on Twitter: “Shocking events in Spalding, Lincolnshire. My thoughts are with the victims and their families.”
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