Plymouth shooting - news: Jake Davison gun licence returned weeks before mass murder as vigil held for victims
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Police are to be investigated over the return of shotgun and licence to a 22-year-old man who shot dead five people and himself.
Jake Davison had his gun and certificate returned to him last month after they had been confiscated by police in September 2020 following an allegation of assault.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said it will investigate Devon and Cornwall Police over the return of Davison’s shotgun and shotgun certificate.
This includes the force’s role and actions regarding firearms licensing, IOPC regional director David Ford said.
He added: “It has not yet been established whether the shotgun returned to Davison was used in yesterday’s shootings.”
It comes after PM Boris Johnson said how Davison came to legally own a gun in the UK should be “properly investigated”.
The offender shot dead his mother Maxine Davison, also known as Maxine Chapman, aged 50.
Sophie Martyn, aged three her father Lee Martyn, aged 40, Stephen Washington, aged 59, and Kate Shepherd, aged 66, were also killed. All the deceased lived locally in the Keyham area of Plymouth.
Mother and son Michelle and Ben Parsonage survived the attack but were left with life-changing injuries.
Emergency services attending ‘serious incident’ in Plymouth
Emergency services are attending a “very serious” incident in Plymouth, with a number of resources at the scene.
The South Western Ambulance Service said it was called at just after 6pm on Thursday to Keyham.
It tweeted: “We responded to the incident with a significant number of resources, including Hazardous Area Response Teams (HART), multiple ambulances, air ambulances, multiple doctors and senior paramedics.
“We will provide an update here in due course.”
‘Serious’ incident underway in Plymouth as multiple ambulances respond to emergency
Incident ‘not terror related’ - local MP
An incident in Plymouth thought to involve a number of victims is “not terror related” and the suspect involved is not “on the run”, Plymouth MP Johnny Mercer has said.
It looks like a very grim day for our city - Labour MP Pollard
There is no update yet for Devon and Cornwall police on the specifics of the incident, however Labour MP Luke Pollard has provided some news.
He tweeted: “Update: awaiting confirmation of number of victims but this looks like a very grim day for our city and our community.
“Please can I ask that you think of the families and our community and not share any images or videos of any of the victims. £keyham.”
Footage shows air ambulances responding to emergency
South Western Ambulance Service earlier this evening confirmed that air ambulances were attending the serious incident in Plymouth this evening.
Footage posted by Dylain Hainey on Twitter shows the helicopters landing at the scene in Keyham.
Home Secretary offers support to emergency services during ‘shocking incident’ in Plymouth
Home Secretary Priti Patel has offered her support to emergency services and described the ongoing incident in Plymouth as shocking.
Ms Patel tweeted: “The incident in Plymouth is shocking and my thoughts are with those affected. I have spoken to the Chief Constable and offered my full support.
“I urge everyone to remain calm, follow police advice and allow our emergency services to get on with their jobs.”
Reports of ‘multiple fatalities’ in Plymouth
Sky News are reporting that there “multiple fatalities” following the incident in Plymouth this evening.
Devon and Cornwall Police have not yet provided a comment on the incident.
Local MP Johnny Mercer has already confirmed the incident is not terror-related.
Air ambulances filmed responding to ‘serious and tragic’ incident
Scores of air ambulances have been filmed surrounding the area in Plymouth while two were filmed taking off from a grassy field in Keyham.
South Western Ambulance Service said it was called just after 6pm on Thursday to an “ongoing incident” in the area.
A number of officers were filmed in the area and an unverified video appeared to capture a person lying on the ground covered with a blanket.
Watch: Emergency services respond to ‘serious’ incident in Plymouth
Multiple people dead after gunman opens fire in Keyham area of city
A number of people have been killed and several others injured in a shooting in Plymouth, police say.
Devon and Cornwall Police said in a statement: “Police were called to a serious firearms incident in Biddick Drive, in the Keyham area of Plymouth at around 6.10pm today [Thursday 12 August].
“Officers and ambulance staff attended. There have been a number of fatalities at the scene and several other casualties are receiving treatment.
“A critical incident has been declared. The area has been cordoned off and police believe the situation is contained.
“Road closures are in place so please avoid the area.
“We are appealing to the public not to speculate or share pictures of the scene on social media or anywhere else.”
Plymouth incident: Multiple people dead after gunman opens fire in Keyham area of city
Plymouth Argyle pay tribute to victims of ‘tragic incident'
Football club Plymouth Argyle have paid tribute to victims of tonight’s “tragic incident” in the Keyham part of the city.
On Twitter, the League One club said: “Our hearts go out to victims of tonight’s tragic incident in our city, alongside their families, friends, and the wider Plymouth community”.
Plymouth MP urges social media users against sharing footage
Johnny Mercer is urging people not to share footage or images of the Plymouth shooting incident on social media.
The footage shows images of the victims that are potentially distressing, and has been viewed more than 300,000 times.
The Plymouth Moor View MP said: “It’s not hard: think if it was your mum/dad/brother/sister involved.
“Let’s see the best of our City tonight and think of the heroes in the emergency services dealing with it all and the families affected.”
It echoes a warning from local news website PlymouthLive, which asks social media users to “be respectful and please to not to share” the video.
The news outlet adds: “Please report anything you see that is distressing. Take care and stay safe.”
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