What happened in Plymouth? Keyham shooting incident explained as Jake Davison named as Biddick Drive gunman

Six people have died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident in Plymouth, Devon and Cornwall Police have said
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A gunman killed five people including a three-year-old girl in a six-minute shooting spree in Plymouth before turning the weapon on himself, police have confirmed.

A critical incident was declared by Devon and Cornwall Police following a “serious firearms” incident in Biddick Drive, in the Keyham area of the city on Thursday (12 August).

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Writing on Twitter, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “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.”

Here is everything you need to know about the incident.

What happened?

Emergency services were called to Biddick Drive shortly after 6pm on Thursday (12 August).

At a press conference in Plymouth on Friday, Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer confirmed that suspect Jake Davison shot and killed a 51-year-old woman at a house in Biddick Drive in the Keyham area of Plymouth on Thursday evening, before going outside and “immediately” shooting dead the girl and her male relative, aged 43.

He moved along Biddick Drive, where he aimed and shot at two local residents – a man aged 33 and a 53-year-old woman – who received significant injuries that are not currently believed to be life-threatening.

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Davison then entered a nearby park, where he killed a man, aged 59, before shooting a woman, aged 66, on Henderson Place - Davison then turned the weapon on himself, the force said.

(Image: NationalWorld)(Image: NationalWorld)
(Image: NationalWorld)

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

He said Davison also shot two other local residents in Biddick Drive who are being treated in hospital for non-life threatening injuries.

Sawyer said a firearm – described by witnesses as a pump action shotgun – was recovered from the scene.

Who were the victims?

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In a statement early on Friday morning, Devon and Cornwall Police said: “Following attendance at the scene, two females and two males were deceased 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 & Cornwall Police officers.”

Sawyer said police believe the first female victim and the suspect were “known” to each other, and said there was a view there was a familial relationship.

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The force said next of kin have been informed and it is not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.

Who was the gunman?

Screengrab of Jake Davison, taken from a video posted on YouTube, who has been named in reports as the suspect in the shooting (Photo: PA)Screengrab of Jake Davison, taken from a video posted on YouTube, who has been named in reports as the suspect in the shooting (Photo: PA)
Screengrab of Jake Davison, taken from a video posted on YouTube, who has been named in reports as the suspect in the shooting (Photo: PA)

The man suspected of the shooting has been named as Jake Davison.

Davison appeared to post on a YouTube account under the name Professor Waffle just weeks before the massacre about how he was “beaten down” and “defeated by life”.

His channel was subscribed to gun-related accounts and another named Incel TV, which features content related to “involuntary celibacy”, although in one of his videos Davison said he “wouldn’t clarify myself as an incel”.

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The online subculture involves men who express hostility and extreme resentment towards those who are sexually active, particularly women.

In another clip, he discusses missing out on a teenage romance and refers to “Chads”, an incel community term for good-looking men who attract women.

Was it terrorism?

The Defence Secretary has said “we can rule out terrorism” after the shooting in Plymouth.

Ben Wallace said: “We can rule out terrorism from that event and I think all it does is it goes to underline the importance of issues such as gun control, but also what is happening in people’s homes up and down the country.

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“It is really important that our police are equipped and supported to deal with it.”

Johnny Mercer, the MP for Plymouth Moor View, said the incident was no longer ongoing and there was no reason for people to be afraid.

When asked on BBC Breakfast on Friday if he could reassure people they are safe and it was an isolated incident, he said: “Absolutely, the incident is not ongoing, the incident closed last evening in terms of what was happening.

“There’s absolutely no reason for individuals to be afraid.”

What happens now?

Forensic officers in Biddick Drive (Photo: PA)Forensic officers in Biddick Drive (Photo: PA)
Forensic officers in Biddick Drive (Photo: PA)
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Plymouth MP Luke Pollard said that information about the shooting was a bit “confused” and police were still calling for eye witnesses to come forward.

“The police cordon is over quite a substantial part of the community and we will need to find out more from the police later today,” he said.

Members of the public with mobile phone footage have been urged not to post it on social media platforms and “respect those families who have lost loved ones.”

Hernandez repeated pleas not to share videos of the incident, adding: “If you can imagine that you lost a family member in the street, unexpectedly in such a horrific way, we really do need to manage what’s going on in terms of lives and loss.”

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Mercer said he was sure there would be “action” taken against people who shared images of the shooting on social media.

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