Raoul Moat Northumbria Manhunt Killings

Birtley / Rothbury, United Kingdom · 2010

solved Mass murder / spree July 3, 2010

Perpetrator

Raoul Thomas Moat

Raoul Moat was a former nightclub doorman from Newcastle upon Tyne who had recently been released from Durham Prison. Days after his release he shot three people, killing one, and then evaded a large police manhunt across Northumberland for nearly a week. He was found near Rothbury and, after a lengthy standoff with police, fatally shot himself.

Victims

Christopher Brown (29)
Samantha Stobbart (22)
David Rathband (42)

Location

Birtley / Rothbury, United Kingdom

Summary

Raoul Moat shot three people in Northumberland, killing his ex-girlfriend's new partner, then sparked a six-day manhunt that ended with his suicide.

Details

On 3 July 2010, Raoul Moat shot and killed Christopher Brown, the new partner of his ex-girlfriend Samantha Stobbart, and seriously wounded Stobbart in Birtley, Gateshead. The next day he shot and blinded unarmed police officer PC David Rathband as he sat in his patrol car near Newcastle. Moat then evaded one of the largest manhunts in British history for six days. On 9-10 July he was cornered by police near Rothbury and, after a six-hour standoff, shot himself; he died early on 10 July 2010. PC Rathband, left blind, later died by suicide in February 2012.

Background

Raoul Thomas Moat was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, in 1973. He worked at various times as a nightclub bouncer and a tree surgeon in the Newcastle area. By 2010 he had a long and troubled personal history, including a turbulent relationship with his former partner, Samantha Stobbart, with whom he had a child.

In early July 2010, Moat was released from Durham Prison, having served a sentence relating to an assault. While he was imprisoned, his relationship with Stobbart had ended, and she had begun a new relationship. Moat reportedly became convinced, mistakenly, that her new partner was a police officer, a belief that fed his anger in the days following his release.

The Shootings

In the early hours of 3 July 2010, Moat shot Samantha Stobbart and her new partner, Christopher Brown, at a house in Birtley, Gateshead. Christopher Brown, aged 29, was killed. Samantha Stobbart was seriously wounded but survived her injuries.

The following day, on 4 July 2010, Moat shot a police officer, PC David Rathband, while Rathband sat in his patrol car in East Denton, Newcastle. The unprovoked attack left Rathband permanently blinded. The attacks prompted one of the largest manhunts in recent British history, with Moat regarded as armed and extremely dangerous.

The Manhunt

Following the shootings, Northumbria Police launched a major operation to locate Moat, who had fled and was believed to be hiding in rural Northumberland. The search drew in large numbers of officers and specialist firearms units, and assistance was reported from forces and agencies beyond the local area.

During the period he was at large, Moat issued threats against the public and the police, heightening public anxiety across the region. The manhunt lasted roughly six days, concentrating in the area around the town of Rothbury, Northumberland, where Moat was eventually traced. The case attracted intense national media coverage throughout the search.

Standoff and Death

Moat was found in Rothbury, and on the night of 9 to 10 July 2010 a prolonged standoff took place between Moat and armed police near the River Coquet. Negotiators sought to persuade him to surrender peacefully over a period of several hours.

The standoff ended in the early hours of 10 July 2010 when Moat died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. During the confrontation, police deployed Taser-type devices; the precise sequence of events surrounding his death was later the subject of an inquest. An inquest jury concluded that Moat had killed himself.

Aftermath and Legacy

The case had a lasting impact on those affected. PC David Rathband, who was blinded in the attack, later founded a charity to support emergency workers injured in the line of duty. He died in February 2012; an inquest recorded that he had taken his own life, underscoring the long-term human toll of the events.

The manhunt and its conclusion prompted public debate in the United Kingdom about police firearms procedures, the use of less-lethal weapons, and the handling of high-profile fugitive operations. Reviews and an inquest examined the police response. The case remains one of the most widely reported British manhunts of its era.

Video Coverage

Frequently asked questions

What was the Raoul Moat Northumbria Manhunt Killings case?

Raoul Moat shot three people in Northumberland, killing his ex-girlfriend's new partner, then sparked a six-day manhunt that ended with his suicide.

Who was responsible for Raoul Moat Northumbria Manhunt Killings?

Raoul Thomas Moat. Raoul Moat was a former nightclub doorman from Newcastle upon Tyne who had recently been released from Durham Prison. Days after his release he shot three people, killing one, and then evaded a large police manhunt across Northumberland for nearly a week. He was found near Rothbury and, after a lengthy standoff with police, fatally shot himself.

Who were the victims of the Raoul Moat Northumbria Manhunt Killings case?

The named victims were Christopher Brown, Samantha Stobbart, David Rathband.

Where and when did the Raoul Moat Northumbria Manhunt Killings case take place?

It took place in Birtley / Rothbury, United Kingdom in 2010.

Was the Raoul Moat Northumbria Manhunt Killings case solved?

This case is recorded as solved.

Sources & further reading

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