Devon Gunman Jake Davison Held Firearms Licence in 2020
Devon and Cornwall Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer revealed Jake Davison, 22, had a firearms licence back in 2020. However, it’s unclear if that licence covered the weapon used in last Thursday’s deadly rampage.
Police say the gun is believed to be a pump-action shotgun. A weapon has been recovered, but authorities are yet to confirm if it’s the same shotgun.
Plymouth Shooting: Five Dead, Two Seriously Hurt
At a press briefing in Plymouth, Sawyer outlined the horrific events. Davison first killed a 51-year-old woman known to him at a Biddick Drive address. He then shot dead a 3-year-old girl and her 43-year-old male relative.
Two other residents, a 33-year-old man and a 53-year-old woman, were seriously wounded and remain in hospital but are not in life-threatening condition.
The horror continued as Davison moved into nearby parkland, shooting a 59-year-old man who died on the spot. Finally, on Henderson Place, he fatally shot a 66-year-old woman who later died at Derriford Hospital.
Police were on scene within six minutes. Sawyer said terrorism was not the primary focus but insisted they are keeping an “open mind.”
Gunman’s Dark Online Past: Misogyny and ‘Incel’ Talks
Davison’s chilling social media posts revealed his mindset. Under the alias Professor Waffle, he described feeling “beaten down” and “defeated by life” in a July 28 recording.
“I didn’t have any willpower to do anything any more,” he said, exploring themes linked to the misogynistic ‘incel’ movement.
Though he never explicitly claimed the “incel” label — short for ‘involuntarily celibate’ — he hinted at shared feelings of loneliness and rejection with similar individuals.
Old posts also suggest Davison admired former US president Donald Trump and supported the UK Libertarian Party.
Boris Johnson Sends Condolences Amid Tragedy
Prime Minister Boris Johnson expressed sympathy on Twitter:
“My thoughts are with the friends and family of those who lost their lives and with all those affected by the tragic incident in Plymouth last night. I thank the emergency services for their response.”
The community reels as families mourn and police continue their investigation.
