Plymouth shooting: Gunman argued with mum before attack

Tributes have been paid to victims of the Plymouth shooting

The Plymouth gunman killed five people with a shotgun after a row with his mother, a coroner has heard.

Maxine Davison, Stephen Washington and Kate Shepherd were killed in Keyham last Thursday, along with father and daughter Lee and Sophie Martyn who were walking their dog.

Coroner Ian Arrow opened their inquests on Thursday morning.

Jake Davison, 22, carried out a 12-minute attack before turning the gun on himself.

Mr Arrow heard evidence from senior investigating officer Det Insp Steve Hambly, who said all five victims had died from shotgun wounds.

• Plymouth shooting: Who were the victims?

He said Davison shot his 51-year-old mother Maxine, also known as Maxine Chapman, before killing three-year-old Sophie and her father Lee, 43.

Maxine Davison was shot and killed by her son, Jake, in her home

Sophie Martyn, three, and her father Lee were among Davison's victims

Davison then killed Mr Washington, 59, before shooting 66-year-old Mrs Shepherd, who later died at Derriford Hospital. He also shot and wounded a 33-year-old man and a 53-year-old woman before turning the gun on himself.

Det Insp Hambly, from Devon and Cornwall Police's major crime investigation team, said Ms Davison, a former trawler woman by occupation, "sustained fatal gunshot wounds" at her home in Biddick Drive following an argument with her son.

He said Mr Martyn, a carpenter, and his daughter Sophie had died from shotgun wounds while walking the family dog in the same street.

Stephen Washington was a "devoted family man, a loving husband, father, grandfather and best friend" said his family

Det Insp Hambly said Mr Washington, who was a carer for his wife, was killed on a nearby footpath while walking his dogs.

He said Mrs Shepherd was shot while walking along Henderson Place.

He added she received immediate medical attention but sadly died despite the best efforts of medics, at 20:25 BST in Derriford Hospital.

The inquest heard Kate Shepherd, 66, was an artist

Mr Arrow said he formally opened all five of the inquests and asked for a file to be prepared within 12 weeks.

In a separate five-minute hearing, the coroner opened and adjourned the inquest into the death of apprentice crane operator Davison.

Det Insp Hambly said: "The police are not looking for any other person in respect of this incident."

He said "on present evidence the medical cause of death has been ascertained as shotgun wounds".

The coroner adjourned all the inquests and fixed a provisional date for pre-inquest reviews on 9 December.

One of the hearts lights up the sky over Plymouth

The inquests come after five heart-shaped fireworks were set off at the British Firework Championships in the city on Wednesday to pay tribute to the victims.

The city fell silent for a minute before the fireworks, followed by a minute of applause to honour the victims.

The event went ahead after organisers had talks with the council and residents.

The competition, held in Plymouth since 1997, will continue on Thursday and see three competitors putting on a 10-minute display.