Plymouth shooting: Gunman Jake Davison killed five people including girl, 3, and his own mother in Keyham

A gunman killed five people including a three-year-old girl and his own mother before turning the weapon on himself in a mass shooting that lasted less than 10 minutes, police have confirmed.

Jake Davison, 22, shot and killed his mother Maxine, 51, during his gun rampage in the city on Thursday, Devon and Cornwall Police said.

The other victims of his shooting spree were named by police as three-year-old Sophie Martyn and her father Lee Martyn, 43; Stephen Washington, 59 and Kate Shepherd, 66.

The firearm - believed to be a ‘pump-action’ shotgun - that was used by Davison was legally held by him, a police statement said.

Police name victims of shooting

In a statement, the force said: “Devon & Cornwall Police can now confirm the identities of those people who have died following a shooting incident in Keyham, Plymouth on Thursday, August 12, 2021.

“All the deceased lived locally in the Keyham area.

“The offender has been named as Jake Davison, aged 22.

“The victims have been identified as Maxine Davison, also known as Maxine Chapman, aged 51, who was the mother of the offender.

“Further victims were Sophie Martyn, aged three, and her father Lee Martyn, aged 43.

“Stephen Washington, aged 59, was also deceased. The final deceased person was Kate Shepherd, aged 66, who was injured at the scene and died later at Derriford Hospital.

“As previously said by Devon & Cornwall Police, the firearm believed to have been used during the incident was legally held by the offender. The circumstances surrounding that have now been subject to a mandatory referral to the IOPC by Devon & Cornwall Police.

“Police continue to investigate 13 scenes within the cordon in Keyham, which is expected to remain in place throughout much of the weekend.”

Six-minute shooting spree

Armed and unarmed officers arrived at the scene within six minutes of receiving multiple calls from the public but Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer said Davison had shot himself before they were able to engage with him.

Mr Sawyer said a firearm 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.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson thanked emergency services in the area for their response, in a Tweet earlier today.

“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,” he wrote.

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