Home Secretary visits Plymouth and lays flowers after fatal shooting
Priti Patel paid her respects to the victims on Saturday, including a three-year-old girl
Last updated 14th Aug 2021
The Home Secretary has laid a floral tribute in Plymouth following Thursday's fatal shooting.
Priti Patel visited the city on Saturday (14th August) to pay her respects to the victims.
Jake Davison killed five people in the Keyham area, including his 51-year-old mother Maxine Davison who was also known as Maxine Chapman.
Three-year-old Sophie Martyn, her father Lee Martyn, 43, and Stephen Washington, 59, also lost their lives. 66-year-old Kate Shepherd was injured at the scene and died later in hospital.
22-year-old Davison, who was from the city, then turned the gun on himself and took his own life.
Home Secretary Priti Patel, joined by Devon and Cornwall's Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer, was seen laying a bouquet of cream flowers at North Down Crescent Park.
She was heard telling a local neighbourhood watch team that the events were "tragic beyond words".
The park was the scene of a candlelit vigil on Friday evening, where hundreds gathered in solidarity for the victims and their families.
One woman said the incident had affected her "quite deeply", while a man added "there is a real sense of grief and sadness" but also a "real sense of togetherness".
Organiser Kevin Sproston said: "The Keyham community are grieving. In fact, there's a lot of love in this place. The community spirit here has always been really, really strong. Everyone's coming out here. And even people who can't make it are actually putting candles out on their doorsteps".
The Prime Minister has also paid tribute to those who died, describing the incident as 'tragic' and 'appalling'.
The police watchdog (IOPC) is to investigate Devon and Cornwall Police over gunman Jake Davison's possession of a shotgun and shotgun certificate, which were returned to him in July.
A spokesperson for the IOPC said: "The Independent Office for Police Conduct has decided to investigate Devon and Cornwall Police’s decision-making in relation to Jake Davison’s possession of a shotgun and shotgun certificate.
"The investigation follows a mandatory referral from the force which contains preliminary information that Mr Davison’s shotgun certificate and a shotgun were returned to him in early July this year. The certificate and shotgun had been removed from Mr Davison by police in December 2020 following an allegation of assault in September 2020".