CITY IN MOURNING
Plymouth shooting – Hundreds light candles and lay flowers at emotional vigil for victims of shooter Jake Davison
HUNDREDS of people gathered to pay tribute to those who were shot dead by Jake Davison at a vigil in Plymouth last night.
Mourners placed candles and flowers at North Down Crescent Park in Keyham, Devon, close to where five people were murdered in the grim shotgun rampage.
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Davison, 22, shot his own mum before randomly killing four other people and then turning the gun on himself in Plymouth.
Lee Martyn, 43, and daughter Sophie were among five people slaughtered as Davison opened fire on a quiet cul-de-sac on August 12.
Twisted Davison shot the pair at random after first targeting his mother Maxine, 51, in her home.
He then went on to kill Stephen Washington, 59, who was walking his dog, and Kate Shepherd, 66, who was rushed to hospital but later died.
Mourners turned out to pay their respects to those who lost their lives in the tragic mass shooting.
Many people lit candles to illuminate the darkness as the community came together.
Plymouth MP Luke Pollard alongside Keyham Neighbourhood Watch were amongst those organising the event, which began at 9pm.
Residents placed dozens of floral tributes at the scene, near the police cordon on Wolseley Road, while hundreds of people have taken to social media to pay their respects and share messages of condolences.
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Home Secretary Priti Patel paid her respects by today placing a large bouquet of flowers near to the scene.
Stephen's son Simon paid tribute to his dad, writing online: “After tonight's events we lost our dad.
“My mum lost her world. My kids and brothers and sister’s kids lost their granddad.
“Each and every one of us will miss him deeply, RIP dad you will be missed, love you.”
What we know so far:
- Five people killed in mass shooting in Keyham, Plymouth, have all been named by police
- Gunman Jake Davison first opened fire at his mum Maxine Davison's home before randomly shooting people in the street
- Sophie Martyn, three, her dad Lee, 43, Stephen Washington, 59, and Kate Shepherd, 66, are among the victims
- Davison, 23, also died after turning the gun on himself
- A number of people are still receiving treatment in hospital
- Police have confirmed the horror is not terror related and said Davison's pump-action shotgun was legally owned by him
Mum-of-one Kate was killed by Henderson Place before Davison turned the gun on himself.
Neighbour Terry Billing, 75, said: “She was a lovely woman and perfect neighbour. She’d always say hello.
“She and her husband John were retired. What happened to Kate and all those poor other victims is atrocious.”
Tributes have also flooded in for tragic dad Lee, who had adopted Sophie with his wife around two years ago.
It is understood they had been returning home when Davison opened fire using the legal firearm, with Sophie pushing a toy pram.
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In a tragic twist, Lee's wife is an intensive care nurse at nearby Derriford Hospital where the injured victims were taken - although it is not known if she was on duty at the time.
One friend said: "Lost for words. You was such a kind selfless gentleman who put everyone else before yourself we have shared many memories together.
"I will never forget the things in life you have done for me, you will forever be in my heart Lee Martyn".
The heartbreak comes after Lee, who works for Toshiba, posted a picture on his Facebook in 2019 revealing he had adopted little Sophie.
He said at the time: "We finally adopted Sophie after nearly 15 months! Game changer."
'LOST FOR WORDS'
Davison unleashed the rampage at around 6.11pm when he stormed a home on Biddick Drive.
Gunshots erupted as he shot mum Maxine, who suffered from cancer, before he skulked down the street holding a pump action shotgun.
He then shot dead Sophie and Lee before leaving a man and woman with significant injuries.
One of the injured victims has been named locally as Ben Parsonage, 33, who was shot along with his mother Michele, 53.
Ben’s brother Jordan posted on Facebook: "Just a little update on my mum and brother. Ben is now home and going to make a full recovery.
"My mum has to have an operation on her arm and is expected to make a full recovery."
🔵 Read our Plymouth shooting blog for the latest updates
Davison continued the spree by gunning down and killing Stephen Washington as he entered a park.
After making his way to Henderson Place, he shot Kate Shepherd, 66, who later died in hospital.
Davison then turned the gun on himself as armed cops raced to the scene.
The chilling timeline was revealed yesterday in a press conference by Devon and Cornwall Police Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer.
The officer said the weapon used in the shooting, which has been recovered, was described as a “pump action shotgun”.
The weapons are legal in the UK as long as they have a fixed magazine capacity of no more than three cartridges and a valid Shotgun certificate.
He also confirmed Davison, whose social media accounts paint the picture of a gun-obsessed loner, had a firearms licence dating back to 2020.
CC Sawyer confirmed there is no know motive at present, adding: "We've never in my time had homicide followed by a rampaging firearms attack on random members of the public and then taking one's life.
"That is without precedent in my time as chief constable."
POLICE PROBE
The Independent Office for Police Conduct, IOPC, has said it will investigate Devon and Cornwall Police over the matter.
Warped Davison had the shotgun and shotgun certificate returned to him last month after being removed in December 2020 following an allegation of assault.
The firearm believed to have been used by the gunman was legally held by him, Devon and Cornwall Police said.
But it is not clear if the shotgun used in the shootings is the one that was returned to him by police in July this year.
It is understood cops were satisfied he was fit to possess a shotgun again after Davison agreed to attend an anger management course, despite posting angry rants online about firearms.
Thursday's horror was the first "active shooter" rampage seen in the UK for 11 years since cabbie Derrick Bird murdered 12 people in Cumbria in June 2010.
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Davison has been revealed as a right-wing crane operator obsessed with American gun culture.
His Facebook is littered with American propaganda such as a picture of an eagle in front of a flag and a picture of the Lexington Minuteman statue that depicts a colonial farmer holding a musket.
The gunman, who claims to be born in Arizona, has also shared a Donald Trump quote.
It reads: "In America, we do not seek to impose our way of life on anyone but rather to let it shine as an example for everyone to watch."
Davison also has a dark YouTube page where he rambles about his failed love life and follows countless pro-gun accounts.
Just two days ago, he added a clip to his 'liked' videos of a M1 Garand semi-automatic rifle being shot.
Davison also likes Incel TV - an online support group for "involuntary celibates" that is linked to male supremacy and misogyny.
The movement has been labelled a "hate" group with many followers accused of believing they are owed sex by women.
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It was linked to the killing of ten people in Canada in 2018 after Alek Minassian posted a Facebook message showing his support for Incels before ploughing a van into crowds.
Just two weeks ago, Davison talks about how difficult it is to "have willpower" when "life has never rewarded you".
The gunman also claims he hasn't spoken to a girl since he was 18 and said he had been “consuming the blackpill overdose”.
The term refers to a belief success with the opposite sex is determined by genetics at birth with blackpillers claiming no amount of money or working out will lead to a relationship so they may as well kill themselves.
Speaking directly into the camera, ranting Davison says: "I'm still in the same position, same period of life - still a f***ing this-that, virgin, f***ing fat, ugly whatever you want to call it.
"What's changed? Nothing."
An extremism expert today claimed Davison's attack must be classed as "domestic terrorism" - despite police announcing it was not terror-related.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Imran Ahmed, Chair of the Centre for Countering Digital Hate, told : ";I would call this a domestic terrorism incident. The reason being is this is a political.
"There is a political ideology that underpins it, which is that women should be in a subjugated position in society, that they're willing to use violence."
Priti Patel praises emergency services for 'rapid response' to 'tragic' Plymouth shooting
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