Plymouth shooting: Who were the victims?
- Published
Police have named the five people who were killed by Jake Davison in the Keyham area of Plymouth on Thursday evening.
In a deadly spree that lasted six minutes, the gunman killed two women, two men and a three-year-old girl.
He also shot two other people who continue to receive treatment in hospital. Davison then turned the gun on himself, taking his own life.
Police were called to Biddick Drive shortly after 18:11 BST - arriving on the scene within six minutes.
What do we know about the victims?
Police have named the gunman's mother, Maxine Davison, as his first victim.
The 51-year-old - also known as Maxine Chapman - was shot and killed inside an address on Biddick Drive.
Chris Escott, Ms Davison's nephew - and Jake Davison's cousin, although he never met him - said: "My brain can't process it, physically can't process that information I was given.
"It's impossible. You can't plan for this. You can't see the next day or the day after or the day after, you just literally take each day as it comes. But I just know that as a family they will come together, be there for each other and try to understand this horrendous thing that's happened."
He added: "Also the other four innocent people that had no part in this. I'm sorry to everybody that's going through this, it must be the worst thing in the world."
After killing his mother, Jake Davison then went into the street and shot dead three-year-old Sophie Martyn and her father, Lee Martyn, 43.
Mr Martyn was "an absolutely amazing dad" according to Sam Weight, head chef at The Anchorage pub in Plymouth where Mr Martyn was a regular.
"It's just horrendous, you cannot believe it, we are all really upset," said Mr Weight. "Lee and Sophie were a pair... he would do anything for her.
"He was a beautiful genuine guy, always joking and she was a cracking little kid who had not even started her life. It's so sad, especially for the family that's left behind."
Another man who knew Mr Martyn from the pub, Barney Wills, said he and Sophie used to come in for breakfast. He was the "best dad anybody could wish for and an amazing friend to so many people", Mr Wills added.
Davison next killed Stephen Washington, 59, before shooting Kate Shepherd, 66, who later died in hospital.
Ms Shepherd was a "very talented artist" who lived in Kingsand, Cornwall, before moving to Plymouth, her friend Claire Kidd said.
"It has touched all of the hearts of the village," she said. "We are all feeling deeply sad and in shock."
All those who died lived in the Keyham area, Devon and Cornwall Police said.
The gunman also shot a 33-year-old man and a 53-year-old woman, who remain in hospital with injuries which are not thought to be life threatening. They have not yet been named by police.
Dozens of bouquets, cards and soft toy tributes have been left close to the scene of the shooting.
Flags across the city have been flown at half-mast, while Smeaton's Tower was lit up as a mark of respect on Friday night.
Hundreds of people also attended a candlelit vigil at North Down Crescent Park, where floral tributes have also been left.
A minute's silence for the victims will take place at 11:00 BST on Monday, Plymouth City Council has said.
It added that books of condolence were available for the public to sign at several locations.
The Bishop of Plymouth will lead a civic service at the Minster Church of St Andrew on Wednesday.
Who was the gunman?
Jake Davison, 22, has been named by police as the gunman.
Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed that he held a licence for the firearm he used during the shooting.
He was said by eyewitnesses to have used a "pump-action shotgun" during the shooting, but police have not confirmed this.
Davison owned a shotgun and held a shotgun licence, both of which were taken from him in December 2020 after he was accused of assault.
But Devon and Cornwall Police returned them in July - a decision being investigated by the police watchdog.
In YouTube videos that have since been removed, Davison spoke of being "beaten down" and "defeated by life".
He said he was socially isolated, struggled to meet women and made references to "incels" - the 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.
Signing off the 11-minute video, which appears to be the last he posted online, Davison said: "I know it's a movie but I like to think sometimes I'm the Terminator or something.
"Despite reaching almost total system failure he keeps trying to accomplish his mission."
Jake Davison wrote about mass shootings in a social media post just three weeks ago, according to BBC Home Affairs journalist Daniel De Simone.
In the post on Reddit, he displayed a detailed knowledge about previous mass shootings in the UK, as well as the weapons used in them.
He also contributed to pages devoted to "incel" culture and wrote that he was a virgin, stating: "I can't attract women at all".
One month ago he told an internet forum group for virgins: "I'm doing better got a job as a crane operator."
Babcock International - a security and defence engineering company with sites in Plymouth - confirmed Davison had worked as an apprentice since August 2020.
What was the motive?
Police have said the incident, the worst mass shooting in Britain since 2010, is not currently believed to be terror-related.
Devon and Cornwall Police Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer told a press conference on Friday that officers believed the shooting was a "domestically-related" incident that "spilled into the streets" of Plymouth.
Mr Sawyer reiterated terrorism was "not the focus" of the investigation but officers were keeping an "open mind".
He added Devon and Cornwall Police were liaising with specialist counter-terrorism officers from the Metropolitan Police.
Mr Sawyer said: "Let's see what's on his hard drive, let's see what's on his computer."
Police are investigating 13 crime scenes and have recovered a firearm from one location.
What have others said?
On Friday evening, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the issue of how Davison came to legally own a gun should be "properly investigated" and called the shooting an "absolutely appalling" incident.
Home Secretary Priti Patel said earlier that questions would "inevitably" be asked following the killings.
She told broadcasters: "This is absolutely tragic and devastating, and for the entire community right now this will be deeply shocking.
"There will be a range of questions that will inevitably be asked and I will be doing the same for the conversations and discussions I'll be having with the chief constable."