Geoff Kerr murdered
The father-of-four shot dead in Templepatrick, on Monday night was 60-year-old Geoff Kerr, a well known financial advisor from the Ballymena area.
The attack happened shortly before 2200 BST at Mr Kerr’s home in the Lylehill Road area.
Originally from Ahoghill, Mr. Kerr was married with four sons. His wife Sally and one of his sons were in the house when the shooting took place.
Mr Kerr, who only moved to Templepatrick about a year-and-a-half ago, has been described by a relative as a “happy family man”.
He had lived and worked in the Ballymena area for many years, where he was also a member of a gun club.
A family friend told the BBC no-one had any idea why Mr Kerr had been attacked: “Sally his wife is just numb and the boys are in shock, we just can’t think of a reason why Geoff would be targeted.”
Ulster Unionist Councillor Danny Kinahan said: “Geoff was a larger-than-life figure with whom what you saw was what you got.
“He’d only been a member of the party in this area for a year, but in that time had made a bigger impact than most do over many years.
“It’s enormous loss to the party, as well as the Kerr family obviously.”
SDLP assembly member Tommy Burns said he understood that Mr Kerr was shot after answering a knock at the door.
DUP South Antrim MP William McCrea said he did not think dissident republican involvement would be the “leading line of inquiry”.
“I certainly hope it is not, but irrespective of who is responsible – we’ve got to catch them, we’ve got to take these killers off the streets of Northern Ireland.
Police have appealed to anyone who saw a dark-coloured BMW car with a number of men inside driving through Templepatrick between 2100 and 2230 BST on Monday to contact them.
A car matching this description was later found burnt out on a lane off the Ballyminymore Road outside Glenavy, about 10 miles away. It is being examined.
Sinn Fein Councillor Annemarie Logue said: “We don’t yet know a lot about what actually happened, but what we do know is that a family is this morning without a father.
“This is absolutely devastating news – Templepatrick is normally such a quiet area.”
Alliance Councillor Alan Lawther said: “Murders should be a thing of the past.”
Mel Lucas of Traditional Unionist Voice said local people were “utterly shocked”.
“All we know for certain at this stage is that a man has been shot dead,” he added.
Police want anyone who witnessed suspicious activity in the area to get in touch.
Templepatrick remains closed between the Old Coach Road and the Antrim Road.
