Specialist support to help community of Plymouth after tragic shooting

Special victim care units have been set up in the city

Author: Sarah YeomanPublished 14th Aug 2021
Last updated 14th Aug 2021

Specialist support and help is on offer in the community following the tragic events in Plymouth.

Members of Victim Support, the Victim Care Unit and the Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner have set up in the car park of Co-op on Wolseley Road near Keyham and North Propsect, and will be there on both Saturday and Sunday.

Staff are on hand to offer support to anyone affected by the shooting and also point people in the direction of further specialist advice and guidance.

Alison Hernandez, Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, is in Keyham speaking to residents and members of the emergency services involved in coordinating the response.

Commissioner Hernandez said: “My thoughts are with the relatives of the deceased, those injured and the people of Plymouth after this horrendous and tragic incident.

“I would like to pay tribute to the hard work of our blue light services this evening who have done all they can to deal with those directly affected and get the injured the best possible medical care.

“Due to the public nature of this incident, we understand that many people will have been affected either practically or emotionally, which is why we’ve set up at the Co-op to offer whatever support we can.

“If you have been affected in any way by these events, please drop by and speak to a specialist support officer.

“You can also contact Victim Support services 24 hours a day on freephone 08 08 16 89 111 or via live WebChat on victimcaredevonandcornwall.org.uk.”

Police were called to a serious firearms incident in Biddick Drive, in the Keyham area of Plymouth at around 6.10pm on Thursday 12th August.

Officers and ambulance staff attended the scene.

Following attendance at the scene, a three-year-old girl, a woman and two men 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.

Devon & Cornwall Police would stress this is not a terrorism related incident.

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

Investigations are continuing into the incident and disruption to the road network in the Keyham area will remain throughout the day.

Police continue to ask any members of the public with mobile phone footage of the immediate aftermath of the incident not to post this on social media platforms and to respect those families who have lost loved ones this evening.

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