Neighbour of Boris Johnson’s father ‘who shot his estranged wife’ has died after he was injured in the suspected murder suicide
A neighbour of Boris Johnson’s father who allegedly shot his estranged wife has died after he was injured in the suspected murder-suicide.
John Zurick, 67, is thought to have blasted wife Debbie, 56, with a shotgun after he discovered she had a new boyfriend. He then turned it on himself, friends said previously.
Paramedics were called to the cottage, on the Prime Minister’s family estate in Somerset, on Saturday afternoon but were unable to save Mrs Zurick.
Her husband was airlifted to hospital, where he was in a critical but stable condition. It has now been confirmed he succumbed to his injuries.
The couple, who had been married for 30 years, bred and trained clumber spaniels. Mr and Mrs Zurick were neighbours of Stanley Johnson – the father of PM Boris Johnson.
Pictured: Debbie and John Zurick with their dogs. Police have opened a murder probe
Pictured: Debbie Zurick and John Zurick. Neighbours of the couple, who lived in Nethercote Cottage, Winsford, Somerset, next to the Johnson family’s 500-acre estate, say the couple’s marriage was in crisis and Mrs Zurick had asked her husband for a divorce
Detective Chief Inspector Neil Rice, of the major crime investigation team, said: ‘This is a tragic incident and detectives, investigators and crime scene specialists are working closely with local uniformed officers to examine the scene and reassure the local community.
‘Dedicated liaison officers are also supporting family members and friends through this difficult time.
‘We are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident, and our focus is now on supporting those affected by it, and completing our inquiries so we can provide a file of evidence to the coroner’s office for Somerset.
‘My team and I will continue to co-operate with the Independent Office for Police Conduct on their investigation.
‘There has been a large police presence in the small hamlet of Winsford and I would like to thank the local community for their patience, co-operation and support while we conducted our investigations.
‘I would like anyone with concerns, worries or any information to speak to their local neighbourhood officers either face-to-face, by calling 101, or contacting us through our website.’