Six months on from the Plymouth shooting
The city continues to support each other half a year on from the fatal tragedy in Keyham
Today (Saturday 12 February) marks exactly six months since a tragic event that would forever shake the city of Plymouth.
On August 12, 2021, five people were killed following a shooting in Keyham - before the gunman, Jake Davison, turned the firearm on himself.
The community came together to mourn the loss of Maxine Davison, Lee Martyn, Sophie Martyn, Kate Shepherd and Stephen Washington.
Since then, the people of Keyham and Ford have continued to be supported - both locally and nationally.
A new online hub - Plymouth Together - was launched, the help those impacted by the tragedy.
It includes the latest information on where local people can access care and wellbeing support in the city; fundraising information and latest events in the area; as well as the action plan for the area’s recovery.
Elsewhere, the Government pledged nearly £2 million to help the community recover from the events.
Nearly £800,000 has been allocated to be spent on children's services, and £1 million has been pledged for community safety and policing.
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Luke Pollard, the Labour MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport says that it is vital that support services are there for many years to come:
"We know it will take many months and many years for some people to feel comfortable asking for help and support.
"Everyone will face this tragedy differently and everyone will process it differently. Some people witnessed things that were just utterly hideous.
"I think the commitment that we have to give as a city to all those people in that community who witnessed and who shared in a most appalling experience, is that we will still be there.
"We will still provide that support, we will have your back, we will continue to step up and support you."
Luke Pollard - Plymouth Sutton & Devonport MP
Hundreds of bouquets of flowers and candles were left at various locations around Keyham in tribute to the five who died.
They have since been collected and preserved in archives at The Box Museum.
A number of flowers are being cast in resin globes to be presented to the victims’ families and the candles are being recycled by a specialist company to create bespoke new candles, some of which will also be presented to the families.
Five hundred teddy bears were also left in tribute to the victims. These have been steam cleaned and a large number will be sent to the Teddy Trust, while various appropriate charities are being considered to send the rest.
Plymouth City Council say a permanent memorial is currently being discussed through consultation with the families, the survivors and the community.
The killings happened just weeks after the shotgun and licence had been returned to Davison by Devon and Cornwall Police.
They had been seized in 2020 after Davison assaulted two teenagers in a park.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating how the force approved his application and then later gave him back the licence and shotgun.
The Home Office announced that the police will now have to check someone's medical history before issuing a gun licence.
As well as the coroner and IOPC's investigations, the National Police Chiefs' Council is also leading an inquiry, in conjunction with the local police and crime commissioner, into the force's firearms policies and procedures.
Davison had received mental health support during the coronavirus lockdown.
His social media usage suggested an obsession with 'incel' culture, meaning 'involuntary celibate', as well as an interest in guns and the US.