Who was Jake Davison? Plymouth gunman who killed five in massacre

Jake Davison killed five people - and injured two others - before taking his own life.

The gunman responsible for killing five people during a six-minute shooting spree in Plymouth spoke of being "defeated by life" just weeks before the massacre.

Jake Davison, who carried out his attack on Thursday evening (12 August), said he felt “beaten down” in videos posted online.

The 22-year-old also “liked” a series of clips about guns and shared posts on social media quoting former US president Donald Trump as well as pictures of a statue holding a rifle.

In one video, posted on 28 July, he said he did not have “any willpower to do anything anymore” and discussed the misogynistic ‘incel’ movement.

Davison appearing in one of his online videos.

‘Incel’ is an abbreviation used online for someone who is ‘involuntarily celibate’, meaning they have been unable to find a partner despite desiring one.

Devon and Cornwall Police Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer said at present there was no indication of motive but Davison's first victim - a 51-year-old woman - is believed to have been known to him.

Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer speaking at a press

While there are currently no known links to right-wing extremism or terrorism, Mr Sawyer said Davison's social media activity would be taken into account in the investigation.

Questions remain over whether Davison was known to authorities, had been referred to mental health services or was receiving treatment.

Davison's Facebook profile suggests he started working at defence and engineering company Babcock International earlier this year. The company declined to comment.

Plymouth shooting - what we know so far:

At the press conference, Chief Constable Sawyer confirmed the following:

  • Police received multiple calls from the public at 6.11pm

  • Police officers arrived on the scene within six minutes

  • The gunman was 22-year-old Jake Davison

  • He shot and killed five people, including a three-year-old girl, before turning the gun on himself

  • Survivors are being treated in hospital for non life-threatening injuries

  • The attack lasted just six minutes

  • There are 13 different crime scenes being examined by police

  • Davison was a licensed firearms holder

  • The gun was described by members of the public as a 'pump-action shotgun'

  • Terrorism is not being considered the motive for the shooting

  • Police believe it to be a domestic incident which "spilled into the streets"

Police have urged anyone who has been traumatised by the incident to contact the Victim Support’s National Helpline on 0808 1689 111.