Gunman searched 'why do incels feel the need to kill themselves' just before shootings
Police have been giving an update on their investigations into Jake Davison's internet history
Last updated 18th Jan 2023
The inquest into the five people shot dead by Plymouth gunman Jake Davison today heard from police about their investigation into his internet use.
Police say while he did search for things like 'kidnap' there was no clear picture showing his motivation to carry out the killings based on incel culture.
Investigators found in the hour before the killings he was almost constantly online - searching what police called largely 'unremarkable' content such as films and YouTube.
They say his internet actions showed 'planning for the future', including re-arranging a DHL parcel that day and seeking to book a future driving test - as well as looking for a flat to move into.
But the court heard his search history showed a 'deeply disturbing' pattern with a hostile relationship with his mother, was misogynistic and showed he viewed women with contempt and had 'great sympathy with incel culture' and 'had explored - on numerous occasions - mass killings and referred to people idolised within incel community for perpetrating mass killings'.
The inquest also heard that Mr Davison's Reddit account was deleted the day before the attacks - but the US-based firm has declined to say why the decision was made - and give British police detailed access to the account.
In the hours before the killings he'd searched for porn and 'gay transition' and had previously been on a Reddit forum regarding incel culture - looking at advice for how to potentially get a girlfriend and reading threads of people asking 'if I’m ugly'.
Superintendent Rachel Bentley, the senior investigating officer, said there was no evidence of planning - or that they formed the inspiration for the killings that night.
The inquest heard about 'incel culture', which related to about heterosexual men who struggled to get a girlfriend - where often forums would criticise feminism.
Reddit did delete his account shortly after the killings, but police say some of his history was obtained.
The court heard Mr Davison had previously filmed himself speaking about incel culture and assaults he committed in September 2020. The court heard the assaults occurred after he was called 'fat' which he took offence to - saying 'this is why incels are more prone to killing themselves or going on a killing spree'.
Mr Davison had posted about how his 'physical and mental health had been terrible for two years now' and was more of a 'dogmatic person full of despair' in around June 2021.
On June 16th 2021, he watched a Youtube video about Elliot Rodger - a US man idolised by the incel community - who killed six people.
He called his mum and 'insufferable, dirty create' in posts. Three weeks before the shootings he posted two monologues saying he was missing out on teenage love experiences - talking about depression and 'things seeming numb' and expressed the view he's 'missed out on relationships as he'd been too self conscious to speak to girls' then claimed women. He referenced the term 'chad' an incel culture term describing a sexually attractive male who finds it easy to form sexual relationships with women.
He referred to the Terminator films, likening himself to the Terminator who after 'reaching total system failure keeps trying to accomplish this mission' - which the court heard shows someone 'not living in the real world'.
He expressed the view 'women are very simple minded' as 'in reality women don't need men anymore' and use the example of girls being attracted to a 'chad'-type character.
In July, weeks before the killings, he also searched for the 1987 Hungerford mass shootings in the UK and searched for 'mass shooting' in the UK. He also made reference to the first person to touch his private parts was a 'gay doctor' at a routine appointment.
Four days before the shooting he searched for anti-terror response information - and three days before searched for videos about Ted Bundy and other serial killers - and also how to reload firearms - before posting a clip online from a game called 'kill zone'.
In the days proceeding the killings he would argue with people on Reddit - and the day before the shootings Reddit suspended his account.
On day on shootings he looked through a thread asking 'why do some incels feel the need to unfortunately end their lives' at 17.47pm.
During questioning, police were asked why they called his search history 'unremarkable' in evidence to the inquest, which Superintendent Bentley said covered more than 1.5 million files - and the content and findings were peer reviewed. She said the force has not 'downplayed' the content they found.
The inquest heard there were 57 posts of 'shocking and unacceptable content' but the other 1.5 million files did not contain such content. There were 47 entries between 04.01 and 17.55 with references to 'black pill', incels, bridge kidnapping, de-transitioning, 'my husband was a kidnapper', 'references to porn' and 'why incels need to end their own lives'
The court heard Reddit was only able to be traced back for 10 months, because his account was deleted. In all forms of his social media accounts - such as Twitter, Reddit and YouTube - they did not include his own name, although he did use his own name on Facebook.
Police said Reddit which is based in the US ' have declined to have informal conversations about Jake's account' and they have no power to request information. They say the CPS were asked to help and they tried to follow 'all legal means they can to obtain the information'. Police say Reddit have declined to say why Mr Davison's account was suspended.
A search of the house found almost 400 pieces of ammunition across the house - bought more than a year before the killings.