Plymouth shooting: Child among six people killed as others treated in hospital

[MenInG]

A child is among six people who have died after a shooting in Plymouth, one of the city's MPs has said.

Devon and Cornwall Police has confirmed two females and two males were found dead at the scene in Keyham - along with a man who is believed to be the suspected offender.

All are believed to have died from gunshot wounds.

Another female who was treated at the scene, also for gunshot wounds, died later in hospital.

Luke Pollard, MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, wrote on Twitter: "I'm utterly devastated that one of the people killed in the Keyham shooting was a child under 10 years old."

He also confirmed that more people were being treated for their injuries in hospital.

Speaking to Sky News on Friday morning, Mr Pollard described the incident as "utterly devastating" and said the police were still trying to piece together what happened.

He said he is hoping we will learn more when police issue a statement later today.

Officers were called to Biddick Drive at about 6.10pm last night.

South Western Ambulance Service said Hazardous Area Response Teams, multiple ambulances, air ambulances, multiple doctors and senior paramedics were also sent to the scene.

Police declared a "critical incident" but stressed the shooting was not terror related and they are not looking for anyone else in connection with what happened.

The next of kin of those who died have been informed.

Police officers and marked patrol cars were stationed at cordons on roads near the scene.

People who lived locally were not allowed into their homes.

One witness, who lives near the scene and gave her name as Sharron, told the BBC: "Firstly, there was shouting, followed by gunshots - three, possibly four to begin with.

"This was when the shooter kicked in the door of a house and randomly started shooting... he ran from the house shooting as he ran and proceeded to shoot at a few people in the Linear Park up from the drive."

Members of the public are being urged not to post or share footage from the immediate aftermath of the incident on social media.

Johnny Mercer, MP for Plymouth, Moor View, condemned the shooting as an "appalling act of violence", saying it will have "far-reaching effects throughout the community".

He told Sky News: "I know everybody says it but you just don't expect it to happen in Plymouth.

"Clearly there is a lot of work to do to support communities who saw some horrific incidents unfolding on their doorsteps yesterday."

Mr Mercer also described the incident as "one of our darkest days for many many years", and said he will "do everything to support our brilliant people at this time".

Home Secretary Priti Patel described the incident in the Devon city as "shocking" and said her thoughts were with all those affected.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer echoed her remarks, adding: "I pay tribute to our emergency services who ran towards events we'd all run from."

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has called the shootings a "tragedy" and said police will be having a "significant meeting" this morning to discuss the event.

Speaking to Sky News, he said his "thoughts are with the tragic loss of life and the families who've lost loved ones today".

"We can rule out terrorism from that event and I think it does underline the importance of issues such as gun control but also what's happening in people's homes up and down the country."

SKY

 

[James]

Pathetic coward. How dare he.

Seems like it could have been a domestic incident.

 

[MenInG]

PLYMOUTH, England, Aug 13 (Reuters) - A man shot dead five people, including a 3-year-old girl, during a six-minute killing spree with a pump-action shotgun in the southern English city of Plymouth in what police believe was a case of domestic-related violence.

Mass shootings are rare in the United Kingdom, where gun ownership is relatively low, and Thursday's rampage was the worst such incident in more than decade.

Police on Friday named the shooter as Jake Davison, a 22-year-old crane operator. He turned his gun on himself after killing the five victims on Thursday evening, the police said.

Devon and Cornwall Police Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer said police had found no motive but they were not considering terrorism or any far-right associations, although they were trawling through Davison's computer.

"We believe we have an incident that is domestically related, that has spilled into the street and seen several people within Plymouth losing their lives in an extraordinarily tragic circumstance," Sawyer told reporters.

The shooting started at about 6 p.m. on Thursday, first killing a 51-year-old woman whom Davison knew in a house. He then ran outside and immediately shot dead the young girl in the street along with her 43-year-old male relative.

Davison shot at two other passers-by who were badly injured, then entered a park and shot dead another man before killing another woman.

He then turned the gun on himself before firearms officers could tackle him. The deadly shooting spree was over in just a few minutes.

Sawyer said witnesses described the weapon as a pump-action shotgun. He could not say whether or not Davison had mental health issues. Davison had a firearms licence.

In videos posted on the internet, Davison had complained of not losing his virginity as a teenager and described himself as an "incel" - or involuntary celibate. He complained in the videos of being beaten down by life, the Times reported.

Britain has suffered a number of deadly militant attacks in the past several years, but this was the worst mass killing of its kind since a taxi-driver killed 12 people then shot himself in a rampage in Cumbria, northern England, in June 2010.

The deadliest mass shooting in Britain’s modern history is the 1996 massacre in Dunblane, Scotland, when a gunman killed 16 pupils and a teacher at the local school before killing himself.

 

[Bewal Express]

Horrific. My heart goes out to the families of the victims. Men with mental health problems should never have access to guns. And if what is reported turns out to be true about the family reporting his issues, the Police have Questions to answer

 

[James]

The youngest victim of this shooting was a three year-old little girl.

This murderer was a truly twisted and repugnant individual.

 

[silentkiller187]

Such a shocking terrorist attack, but media will focus more on the mental health aspect as always, or this new angle of him being deprived of sex which turned him into some sort of monster. If he was Asian or black the labels would have been a lot different.

 

[Bewal Express]

Such a shocking terrorist attack, but media will focus more on the mental health aspect as always, or this new angle of him being deprived of sex which turned him into some sort of monster. If he was Asian or black the labels would have been a lot different.

That's a debate for a different day.

 

[James]

Such a shocking terrorist attack, but media will focus more on the mental health aspect as always, or this new angle of him being deprived of sex which turned him into some sort of monster. If he was Asian or black the labels would have been a lot different.

This reprehensible coward’s full list of motives do not seem to be entirely clear at the moment, but whether he eventually comes to be defined as a terrorist or not, one thing’s for sure, he is/was a multiple murderer, as well as a pathetic excuse for a human being, and a truly evil, monstrous individual.

 

[Last Monetarist]

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-devon-58206101

The mother of the Plymouth gunman, Maxine Davison, and three-year-old Sophie Martyn have been named among the five victims of his shooting spree.

Ms Davison, 51, was shot and killed by her 22-year-old son Jake Davison at her home on Biddick Drive, Plymouth, on Thursday evening.

Davison went on to kill three-year-old Sophie, her father Lee Martyn, 43, Stephen Washington and Kate Shepherd.

His attack lasted about six minutes before he turned the gun on himself.

In online videos Davison spoke of being "beaten down" and "defeated by life".

All of those who died lived in the Keyham area of Plymouth, Devon and Cornwall Police said.

Officers are continuing to investigate 13 scenes within a cordon that is expected to remain in place throughout much of the weekend.

Having killed his mother, Davison left the property and immediately shot and killed Mr Martyn and his daughter on the street.

Stephen Washington, 59, was also killed, along with Kate Shepherd, 66, who was injured at the scene and died later at Derriford Hospital.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the issue of how Davison came to legally own a gun should be "properly investigated" as he described the shooting as an "absolutely appalling" incident.

Police said the incident, the worst mass shooting in Britain since 2010, was not terror-related. However, Davison made references to "incels" in some online social media videos.

Incels are members of misogynistic online groups of "involuntary celibate" men, who blame women for their sexual failings and who have been linked to a number of violent acts around the world.

Davison had posted hate-filled online rants about single mothers and about his own mother in particular, calling her "vile, dysfunctional and chaotic".

Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall Police, Shaun Sawyer, said Davison was a licensed firearms holder and witnesses described the weapon he used as a "pump action shotgun".

The force has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) over the circumstances surrounding Davison's firearms licence.

Local resident Bert Pinkerton told the BBC he walked past the gunman on the street.

"I looked down, walked around the corner, the bloke was walking towards me with a black rifle. I could smell the gunfire."

He said Davison had a "vacant stare" and he felt lucky to be alive. "It could have been me," he said.

Neighbour Paris and Billy told the BBC they were "heartbroken" to find out the youngest victim of the gunman was aged three.

Paris said: "I feel devastated for the family it makes everything worse being a child.

She added: "Nothing's ever going to be the same especially when it's over the road."

Billy said: "Its going to be different here forever now I think."

Another local woman said she hid under a pool table to avoid the "sheer violence" after hearing gunshots.

Peggy Holliday took cover in a nearby pub and "literally clung underneath one of the pool tables for dear life", she told ITV News West Country.

"It felt like I was being hunted," she said.

Flags in Plymouth are being flown at half-mast following the atrocity, while Smeaton's Tower will be lit up as a mark of respect to the victims on Friday night.

There will be a candlelit vigil at 21:00 BST on Friday in North Down Crescent Park to pay tribute to those who were killed.

 

[Bewal Express]

I should have added that no one should have access to guns. Only farmers may have use for them

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Incels are members of misogynistic online groups of "involuntary celibate" men, who blame women for their sexual failings and who have been linked to a number of violent acts around the world.

A few years ago if someone had told me that 'lonely incels' will pick up guns and start shooting random folks (mostly women), I would have laughed at the absurdity of it.

But it is a sad and terrifying reality.

I believe modern social networks has built a fake, unrealistic and unachievable reality. It is evil. I personally know a 22 years old girl of Moroccan origin who has put botox in her face/lips area to look like Kardashians the Instagram fake lifestyle or the Tik Tok crap being fed to innocent and gullible minds

Young men expect women to look/behave like pornographic crap and young women are fed with more and more consumerism. OnlyFans is a real option for modern woman Reminds me of Fifteen Million Merits (Black Mirror)...


Something is deeply wrong with so called 'modern society' if a bunch of individual (who had luck of being born in first world) are behaving this way.

 

[MenInG]

A man who comforted one of the Plymouth shooting victims in the final minutes of her life has spoken of the moment he came face to face with the gunman.

Bert Pinkerton was seen on car dashcam footage helping Kate Shepherd after she was gunned down on Henderson Place in the city on Thursday.

Speaking to Sky correspondent Ashna Hurynag, Mr Pinkerton said he saw her killer Jake Davison with a "blank expression" after the shooting, and wishes he had been able to tackle the gunman.

He said: "(Davison) was staring through you basically. He was dressed in black - black T-shirt, big black beard, black curly hair, and walking like was on patrol, like a soldier with a gun."

Mr Pinkerton believes he would have been the next person to be shot if the 22-year-old had more bullets.

He added: "He knew he had to have one for himself and that's what he had left, because just after that, that's when he shot himself.

"I'm not as fit as I used to be, but if that was back in the day I would have jumped him, even at his size."

SKY

 

[James]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-60344769

<b>Plymouth shootings: Killer's dad says he's sorry and ashamed</b>

The father of a man who shot dead five people has said he is "sorry" and "ashamed" of his son's actions.

Jake Davison, 22, killed his mother at her home and then four other people, including a three-year-old girl, outside in Keyham, Plymouth, in August.

His father, Mark Davison, said he told police in 2017 he did not think his son should be allowed a shotgun.

Devon and Cornwall Police said an independent investigation was ongoing into its firearms licensing procedures.

Mr Davison, who was divorced from his son's mother, Maxine Davison, said he had seen his son when he could.

He said his Christian faith had helped him turn his own life around after spending time in prison.

"I don't know what was going on with him," he added. "If I could say sorry any better than I can, if I could change it I really would. I am sorry and I am ashamed."

The killings happened just weeks after Jake Davison's shotgun and licence were returned to him by Devon and Cornwall Police.

Mr Davison said: "That three-year-old little girl, and the other victims. People just going about their lives, going to the park or going to the shop, taking the dog or whatever they were doing.

"Whatever Jake's mitigation was it's still no form of defence. He shouldn't have done that. He shouldn't have had a gun in the first place."

The shotgun and licence had been seized in 2020 after Davison assaulted two teenagers in a park.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating how the force approved his application and then later gave him back the weapon.

In the wake of the shooting, the Home Office announced police would have to check someone's medical history before they issued a gun licence.

Mr Davison said he called the police in 2017, and had concerns about his son's mental health.

"I told them. I said I don't want him to have a shotgun," he said.

"I said I remember him asking me for an air rifle when he was younger. I said 'I'm not buying you a point 22 air rifle son... without me there to supervise that'.

"Why did he even need one in the first place? He lived in the city.

"If he was a farmer or whatever it was ... then yes maybe then, but he shouldn't have had the gun in the first place."

Devon and Cornwall Police said it was co-operating with the IOPC investigation and providing all information required.

A spokesman said: "Individual contacts with Jake Davison by members of his family, members of the public or agencies that are known to us, or exist within our systems, form part of that investigation.

"The outcome of that investigation will be shared by the IOPC with the families, coroner and ourselves at a later date.

"As a result, Devon and Cornwall Police is unable to comment further on any matters that are subject to independent investigation and review."

As well as the coroner and IOPC's investigations, the National Police Chiefs' Council is also leading an inquiry, in conjunction with the local police and crime commissioner, into the force's firearms policies and procedures.

The force spokesman added: "In addition, there is currently an ongoing peer review of Devon and Cornwall Police's firearms licensing procedures.

"This was a review commissioned by the force following events in August 2021.

"The review is not an investigation of any potential fault by an individual or the organisation.

"It focuses on the processes within the Firearms Licensing Unit, compliance with Home Office guidelines and most importantly ensuring we have the national best practice available to us as we move forward."

The IOPC said it was still working on its report and would publish its findings as soon as possible.

A spokesman for the IOPC added: "We can confirm we have spoken to Mr Davison and his statement that he made a call to Devon and Cornwall Police has been considered and reported on as part of our independent investigation."