‘Very young girl’ among six left dead in Plymouth shooting
A “very young girl” was among those shot dead by a gunman who killed four other people in Plymouth before shooting himself, police have said.
Devon and Cornwall Police Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer said the girl was shot dead by 22-year-old Jake Davison, while two people remain in hospital with “significant injuries”.
Speaking at a press conference, he said there were a “considerable” number of phone calls to emergency services and that police arrived at the scene on Biddick Drive in Keyham within six minutes.
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The shooting took place in Keyham, Plymouth
He confirmed Davison “murdered a woman” known to him at an address.
Police are investigating whether the pair were related but refused to confirm either way.
It’s not clear whether the suspect knew the rest of the victims, but Chief Constable Sawyer said Davison “knew people on that street”.
Jake Davison is suspected to have killed himself and five others. Pic: Facebook
“We believe we have an incident that is domestic-related and has spilled out into the street and seen several people within Plymouth losing their lives in an extraordinarily tragic circumstance,” he said.
Chief Constable Sawyer said Davison had a firearms licence in 2020 and there was “no motive” at present, and that witnesses described the weapon as a pump action shotgun – which was recovered from the scene.
He added: “Multiple shots have been fired from a firearm during that six-minute-or-so period.
“There are some 13 scenes and potentially more scenes. There are therefore five people of Plymouth who have lost their lives overnight – and Mr Davison himself – including a particularly young child.”
Constable Shaun Sawyer said officers arrived at the scene within six minutes
Chief Constable Sawyer said the victims’ identities would be made public at a later time.
Police also confirmed a woman, the girl and two men were found dead at the scene in Keyham on Thursday evening – along with Davison who is believed to be the suspected offender.
All are believed to have died from gunshot wounds.
Police activity in Biddick Drive where six people, including the offender, died from gunshot wounds
Another woman who was treated at the scene, also for gunshot wounds, died later in hospital.
Police named the suspected gunman as Davison earlier today, who Constable Sawyer said killed the others before turning his weapon on himself.
In videos shared online just weeks before the massacre, he spoke of being “beaten down” and “defeated by life”.
Davison, who posted on a YouTube channel under the name Professor Waffle, said he did not have “any willpower to do anything anymore” in a recording dated 28 July.
Jake Davison repeatedly referred to ‘incels’ in videos uploaded to YouTube
In several clips, he referred to the “incels” – an abbreviation online for “involutory celibacy”, the online subculture that involves men who are unable to find a romantic or sexual partner despite desiring one, often expressing hostility and extreme resentment towards those who are sexually active, particularly women.
Although saying he did not “clarify” himself as an “incel”, Davison talked about “people similar to me have had nothing but themselves”.
Chief Constable Sawyer said police are “not considering terrorism or a relationship with any far-right group or any such other group” but will be investigating his computer hard drive.
A police investigator carries a tripod and evidence markers in Royal Navy Avenue in the Keyham area of Plymouth
Luke Pollard, MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, earlier confirmed on Twitter that one of the victims was a child under 10, and said he was “utterly devastated”.
He also said that more people were being treated for their injuries in hospital.
Officers were called to Biddick Drive at about 6.10pm following reports of a shooting.
South Western Ambulance Service said Hazardous Area Response Teams, multiple ambulances, air ambulances, multiple doctors and senior paramedics were also sent to the scene.
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‘Darkest day in Plymouth’s history’
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.
Neighbours reported hearing very loud gunshots and some members of the public told Sky News it sounded like a bomb was going off.
Forensic experts have been pictured carrying out investigations at the crime scene on Friday morning. They have been doing fingertip searches, bagging up evidence and taking pictures.
A police investigator carries a tripod and evidence markers in Royal Navy Avenue in the Keyham area of Plymouth
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has reacted to the news, saying his “thoughts are with the friends and family of those who lost their lives and with all those affected”.
He also thanked the emergency services for their response to the incident.
Home Secretary Priti Patel described the incident in the Devon city as “shocking” and said her thoughts were with all those affected.
Johnny Mercer, MP for Plymouth, Moor View, condemned the shooting as an “appalling act of violence” and told Sky News it will have “far-reaching effects throughout the community”.
A man’s body has been recovered from an area of flooding in North Yorkshire, police have said, as major incidents have been declared in two counties.
The body was found near Intake Lane in Beal, close to Eggborough and Knottingley.
Police believe the man may have entered the water in the last 24 to 48 hours.
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North Yorkshire Police said: “Despite extensive enquiries, including with our colleagues in Humberside and West Yorkshire Police, we have been unable to identify him.
“He was found without any identification or personal belongings.”
The man was also described as white, in his early 50s to 60s, with light brown short hair and stubble.
He was wearing brown walking boots, blue denim jeans, a multicoloured knitted jumper and possibly a dark green waterproof coat, police added.
It comes after Leicestershire and Lincolnshire both declared a major incident in response to the extreme weather hitting the UK and Ireland.
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Leicestershire Fire and Rescue was the first emergency service in England to declare an incident and said it had received more than 200 calls since Monday morning over widespread flooding.
Crews had found cars stuck in floodwater and evacuated residents from flooded homes and rising waters, with some 17 people rescued as of 1.45pm.
The Lincolnshire Resilience Forum declared a major incident shortly after, and noted that emergency services had rescued children who were stranded at a school in Edenham.
Meanwhile, the Met Office has three yellow weather warnings – each for snow and ice – in effect throughout Monday evening and Tuesday morning.
Pic: Met Office
A warning covering the west and north coast of Scotland – reaching into Inverness and Aberdeen – will last until midday, while an alert in effect for all of Northern Ireland will last until 11am.
The Met Office has also issued a warning covering Wales and parts of northwest England on Monday evening, moving into southwest England, the Midlands and parts of southern England in the early hours of Tuesday.
On Wednesday, a yellow weather warning for snow is in effect across the south of England – stretching from just above Truro in Cornwall to Canterbury in Kent – from 9am to midnight.
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