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Jake Davison named as gunman who killed five in UK

A man suspected of killing five people in Plymouth before turning the gun on himself has been named locally as Jake Davison.

Three females and two males were shot in the Keyham area of the city on Thursday evening.

Police said the incident, the worst mass shooting in Britain since 2010, is not terror-related.

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Five died, including the suspect, at the scene and one died in hospital. An MP has said one victim was a child.

Emergency services were called to Biddick Drive shortly after 18:00 BST on Thursday.

The force added: “The area has been cordoned off and police are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.”

Prime minister Boris Johnson tweeted: “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.”

Plymouth Sutton & Devonport MP Luke Pollard added it was “unspeakably awful” and he was “utterly devastated” to learn one of those killed was a child.

People were asked to stay inside and follow police advice as the emergency services responded.

Forensic team at scene in Keyham, Plymouth
A large cordon remains in place around the scene in Keyham

Eyewitness Sharron, who lives nearby and did not want to give her full name, said what happened was “horrendous and so sad”.

“Firstly, there was shouting, followed by gunshots – three possibly four to begin with,” she said.

“This was when the shooter kicked in the door of a house and randomly started shooting. He ran from the house shooting as he ran and proceeded to shoot at a few people in the linear park up from the drive.”

She said the “shooter proceeded along Royal Navy Avenue still shooting”.https://emp.bbc.com/emp/SMPj/2.43.6/iframe.htmlmedia captionDefence Secretary Ben Wallace: “We’ve ruled out terrorism as being behind this”

Scenes of crime officers in white suits could be seen using cameras in the street and members of the public who lived locally were not allowed into their homes, PA Media reported.

Home Secretary Priti 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.”

Map shows police cordon in Keyham

Johnny Mercer, MP for Plymouth Moor View, described Thursday’s events as “tragic” and “devastating”.

He said: “There were some fairly traumatic aspects to this incident and as a community now need to come together and try and understand it as much as we can.”

‘Grief and trauma’

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said he had spoken to the home secretary and was assured the situation was “in hand”.

“I think it a very sad and tragic event and my thoughts are with the families who have relatives and friends who have lost their lives.”

He added: “We should recognise the brave police officers who went into a situation with an armed man and under their own threat took decisive action.”

Police officers at scene
Police are due to release further information on Thursday’s events

Leader of Plymouth City Council Nick Kelly said nothing in his “living memory” compared with the shooting.

He said: “Today our city is mourning and my heart goes out to all those who are directly affected by this incident.”

The Bishop of Plymouth the Right Reverend Nick McKinnel said the city had been “left with a legacy of grief and trauma, as well as great anxiety” that would “affect people’s lives forever”.

Mr Pollard said Ford Primary School and St Mark’s Church on Cambridge Road would be open from 09:00 as a “safe place for our community to come together”.

Police and crime commissioner for Devon and Cornwall, Alison Hernandez said many in the community “would have witnessed what occurred, right in front of their eyes, where they live”.

“Absolutely devastated this morning,” she said. “A lot of us are speechless.”

The last mass shooting in Britain happened in 2010 when taxi driver Derrick Bird killed 12 people in Cumbria.

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