Gunman suspected of killing five in Plymouth shooting is named

Local sources identify Jake Davison, who also killed himself in atrocity being classed as domestic incident

A man suspected of killing five people, including a child, before turning a gun on himself in Plymouth has been named as Jake Davison.

Two females and two males died at the scene in the Keyham area of the city, along with another male who was believed to have been the offender, Devon and Cornwall police said.

Another female was treated at the scene for gunshot wounds and later died in hospital. One of the victims was a child under 10, according to an MP.

The force said next of kin had been informed and it was not looking for anyone else in connection with the attack, which it confirmed was not terror-related.

Multiple local sources named Davison, 22, as the shooter. Social media profiles suggest he worked at Babcock International, which has a significant presence near the city at the dockyards in Devonport.

Social media posts from about 2018 also suggest he was a fan of the former US president Donald Trump and a supporter of the UK Libertarian party. He also recently shared his struggles in keeping fit and his difficulties using weights to stay in shape.

The prime minister, Boris Johnson, tweeted: “My thoughts are with the friends and family of those who lost their lives and with all those affected by the tragic incident in Plymouth last night. I thank the emergency services for their response.”

Babcock’s CEO, David Lockwood, said: “I am shocked and deeply saddened by the events that have unfolded overnight in Plymouth and the deaths of six people.

“Our thoughts and condolences are with the friends and families of those involved in this tragedy. We stand with the city at this difficult time.

“As one of the largest employers in Plymouth, we are providing support and help for any of our colleagues who feel affected by this incident.”

The Labour MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, Luke Pollard, said more people were being treated for their injuries in hospital, and tweeted: “I’m utterly devastated that one of the people killed in the #keyham shooting was a child under ten years old.”

Emergency services were called to Biddick Drive in the Keyham area of the city, where the offender is understood to have lived, shortly after 6pm on Thursday. Witnesses described hearing gunshots with one saying she saw a man “randomly” start shooting at people.

In a statement early on Friday, Devon and Cornwall police said two females and two males had died at the scene.

“A further male, believed to be the offender, was also deceased at the scene. All are believed to have died from gunshot wounds. Another female treated at the scene for gunshot wounds died a short time later in hospital.

“All of the next of kin of the deceased have been located and informed by Devon and Cornwall police officers.” The force said the shootings were not terrorism related.

They added: “The area has been cordoned off and police are not looking for anyone else.”

Biddick Drive location map

It urged the public with mobile phone footage of the “immediate aftermath” not to post it on social media and to “respect those families who have lost loved ones this evening”.

One witness, who lives near Biddick Drive 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.”

Robert Pinkerton told the BBC he had walked around the corner and “bumped into a bloke with a shotgun”.

Pollard tweeted that police confirmed six people had died, adding “more people are being treated for their injuries in hospital”. He said: “Just so unspeakably awful. My condolences and thoughts are with the families.”

In a video posted on Twitter, Pollard said Ford primary school and St Mark’s church on Cambridge Road in Keyham would be open from 9am on Friday and he, along with police and local councillors, would be attending to support the community.

He said time and space would be needed to process what has happened, but “this will be a safe space for the community to come together”.

South Western ambulance service said it was called just after 6pm on Thursday and responded with a significant number of resources, including hazardous area response teams, multiple ambulances, air ambulances, multiple doctors and senior paramedics.

Contributors

Jamie Grierson, Steven Morris and Matthew Weaver

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