Plymouth shooting: Police confirm identities of victims killed in deadly gun attack

The mother of the Plymouth gunman and a three-year-old girl were named among the victims killed in the deadly shooting spree.

Jake Davison, 22, killed five people and himself in the Devon naval city on Thursday evening. Among the victims was his mother Maxine Davison, also known as Maxine Chapman, aged 51, who he gunned down a property in Biddick Drive in the Keyham area.

Minutes later, he then went outside and killed Sophie Martyn, aged three, and her father Lee Martyn, aged 43.

In what Devon and Cornwall Police called a “truly shocking event”, Davison, using what was described as a “pump action shotgun”, shot and killed Stephen Washington, aged 59, in a nearby parkland.

Kate Shepherd, aged 66, who was injured at the scene and died later at Derriford Hospital. Davison then turned the gun on himself, Devon and Cornwall Police said.

Police confirmed the firearm used during the shooting was legally held by the offender. The circumstances surrounding that have now been subject to a mandatory referral to the IOPC.

Police forensic work continues at the scene in Biddick Drive in the Keyham area of Plymouth where six people, including the offender, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident Thursday evening. Picture date: Friday August 13, 2021.
Andrew Matthews

Officers continue to investigate 13 areas of interest within the cordon in Keyham, which is expected to remain in place throughout much of the weekend.

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

At a press conference in Plymouth on Friday, he said Davison also shot two other local residents in Biddick Drive who are being treated in hospital for non-life threatening injuries. Chief Constable

Shaun Sawyer said: "We believe we have an incident that is domestically related, that has spilled into the street and seen several people in Plymouth losing their lives in extraordinarily tragic circumstances.”

Forensic officers in Biddick Drive in the Keyham area of Plymouth where six people, including the offender, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident Thursday evening. Picture date: Friday August 13, 2021.
Ben Birchall

The chief constable said a firearm – described by witnesses as a pump action shotgun – 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.

“There are therefore five people of Plymouth who have lost their lives overnight – and Mr Davison himself – including a particularly young child.” e said the two people in hospital “received significant injuries”, but were the only victims to receive non-fatal injuries.

The force is looking at Davison’s social media output as part of the investigation.

Mr Sawyer said: “This is an extraordinarily unusual response by a fellow human being.

“Whether there were mental health issues I cannot say at this time.”

He said most witnesses were “shocked at what was unfolding before them”, but said there was no evidence to suggest Davison was saying anything as he carried out his atrocity.

Anyone feeling vulnerable or wanting support can contact the Victim Support’s National Helpline on 0808 1689 111.