The Cumbria shootings were a killing spree that occurred on 2 June 2010 when a lone gunman, Derrick Bird, killed 12 people and injured 11 others before killing himself in the county of Cumbria, North West England, United Kingdom.

The series of attacks began in mid-morning in Lamplugh and moved to Frizington, Whitehaven, Egremont, Gosforth and Seascale, sparking a major manhunt by Cumbria Constabulary.

Bird, a 52-year-old local taxi driver, was later found dead in a wooded area, having abandoned his vehicle in the village of Boot. Two weapons that appeared to have been used were recovered. There were 30 different crime scenes investigated. Police confirmed it was the worst incident of mass shooting in Britain since the Dunblane massacre of 1996.

The Queen paid tribute to the victims and The Prince of Wales later visited Whitehaven in the wake of the tragedy. The Prime Minister, David Cameron and Home Secretary Theresa May also visited West Cumbria. A memorial fund has been set up to aid victims and affected communities.

Timeline

Targeted shootings

The incident began when Bird, a self-employed taxi driver from Rowrah, first shot dead his twin brother, David Bird, in Lamplugh, then shot dead the family solicitor, Kevin Commons, in Frizington. At 10.20 BST the police were telephoned. Bird then moved on toward Whitehaven. At 10:33, there was a shooting incident close to the taxi rank in Whitehaven. It emerged that the suspect, later identified as Bird, had shot dead a taxi driver who was known to him, and that he had shot several others.

Random shootings

Soon after this, residents in the towns of Whitehaven, Egremont and Seascale were urged to stay indoors after the shots were heard and there were further shooting incidents. He drove through several local towns firing apparently at random. In Egremont, Bird killed a further two people on the streets. A couple were both shot dead in the village of Wilton and a mole-catcher in a field in Carleton was also killed. A former semi-professional rugby league player, Garry Purdham, was shot dead outside the Red Admiral Hotel at Boonhead, near Gosforth. Bird also killed three people in Seascale: two pedestrians and a man driving a car. The motorist died, although it was not clear at first whether he died from gunshot wounds or the resultant car crash.

Search for the suspect

Bird was last seen alive at 12.30; shortly after 12:30 police confirmed that there had been a number of fatalities and that they were searching for a suspect.

Police announced they were searching for the driver of a dark grey Citroën Xsara Picasso, driven by the suspect identified as Bird. Bird reportedly abandoned his car in the village of Boot and continued to evade the police on foot.

At 14:00, Deputy Chief Constable Stuart Hyde announced that a body, believed to be that of Bird, had been found in a wooded area, along with a rifle. Police confirmed shortly afterwards that members of the public who had previously taken shelter during the incident could now resume their normal activities.

During the manhunt, the gates of the nearby Sellafield nuclear reprocessing plant were closed as a precaution, and the afternoon shift was told not to come to work. This was the first lockdown in the history of the plant.

Victims

Targeted killings

1. David Bird, 52, killed at Lamplugh, twin brother of the gunman.

2. Kevin Commons, 60, killed at Frizington, gunman's family solicitor.

3. Darren Rewcastle, 43, killed at Whitehaven, fellow taxi driver known to the gunman.

Random killings

4. Susan Hughes, 57, killed at Egremont.

5. Kenneth Fishburn, 71, killed at Egremont.

6. Jennifer Jackson, 68, killed at Wilton, wife of James Jackson.

7. James Jackson, 67, killed at Wilton, husband of Jennifer Jackson.

8. Isaac Dixon, 65, killed at Carleton.

9. Garry Purdham, 31, killed at Gosforth, brother of England rugby league captain Rob Purdham.

10. Jamie Clark, 23, killed at Seascale.

11. Michael Pike, 64, killed at Seascale.

12. Jane Robinson, 66, killed at Seascale.

Perpetrator

13. Derrick Bird, 52, suicide at Boot

Aftermath

At 15:00, Prime Minister David Cameron, taking his first session of Prime Minister's Questions, announced that "at least five" people had died, including the gunman. Later that evening, a police press conference in Whitehaven announced that 12 people had been killed, that a further 11 people were injured, and that the suspect had killed himself. They also confirmed that two weapons had been used by the suspect in the attacks and that thirty different crime scenes were being investigated.

Over the next few hours, Bird's shooting of his brother and solicitor was revealed. The police stated that the shootings took place along a 15-mile (24 km) stretch of the Cumbrian coastline. Helicopters from neighbouring police forces were used in the manhunt, while those from the RAF Search and Rescue Force and the Yorkshire Air Ambulance responded to casualties. A major incident was declared by North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust at West Cumberland Hospital, Whitehaven, with the accident and emergency department at the Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle, on full incident stand-by.

Bird had been a licensed firearms holder and the incident sparked debate about further gun control in the United Kingdom; the previous Dunblane and Hungerford shootings had led to increased firearms controls.

Perpetrator

Derrick Bird was a son of Joseph (7 September 1916 – 31 October 1998) and Mary Bird, who is terminally ill. He had a twin brother, David (1957–2010) and an older brother. He lived alone in Rowrah, and had two sons with a woman from whom he separated in the mid 1990s. He became a grandfather on 22 May 2010, and was variously described as a popular and quiet man who worked as a self-employed taxi driver in Whitehaven. There are unconfirmed reports that he had previously sought help from a local hospital due to his fragile mental state. Bird had a shotgun certificate from 1995 onwards, and a firearms certificate for a rifle from 2005 onwards. He was being investigated by HM Revenue and Customs. The body of Bird was formally identified at Furness General Hospital in Barrow-in-Furness, and he was cremated at a private service on 18 June 2010

Possible motives

There has been speculation that Bird may have had a grudge against people associated with the Sellafield nuclear power plant that he worked for as a joiner, resigning in 1990 due to an allegation of theft of wood from the plant. He was subsequently convicted, and given a 12 month suspended sentence. Three of the dead were former employees although there is no evidence that any were involved with his resignation.

A fellow taxi driver, who described himself as one of Bird's best friends, and was shot in the hand, has claimed that Bird had a relationship with a Thai girl he met on holiday in Pattaya, Thailand. It has been further claimed by another friend of Bird that he had sent £1,000 to the girl, who subsequently ended their relationship via a text message; he added that Bird had been "made a fool out of".

It has also been speculated that Bird had been involved with a family dispute over a will. The speculation was heightened when it was revealed that Bird had targeted both his twin, David, and the family's solicitor, Kevin Commons, in his attacks, killing both.

Police investigating the killings have also found that Bird was the subject of an ongoing tax investigation by HM Revenue and Customs for tax evasion. This suggests that he could have been pressurised by the threat of possible future prosecution and punishment at the time of the killings, suggesting a possible cause of his actions. According to Mark Cooper, a fellow taxi driver who had known him for 15 years, Bird had accumulated £60,000 in a secret bank account and was worried he would be sent to prison for hiding the cash from HM Revenue & Customs.

Reactions

Official responses and visits

Prime Minister, David Cameron was joined by several other MPs in expressing the House of Commons members' shock and horror at the events during Prime Minister's Questions.

On the evening of 2 June, the Queen said she was "deeply shocked" by the shootings and shared the nation's "grief and horror".

The Home Secretary, Theresa May MP expressed her regret at the deaths and paid tribute to the response of the emergency services. The Cabinet met to discuss the shootings and May later made a statement on the Cumbria incident to the House of Commons on 3 June 2010. Cameron and May visited the affected region on 4 June 2010 to meet victims, officials and local people.

Jamie Reed, the local Member of Parliament for Copeland, called the incident the "blackest day in our community's history".

Prince Charles visited Whitehaven on 11 June 2010 to meet members of the community affected by the tragedy.

Media

BBC One altered their programming to broadcast two BBC News Specials about the shootings, at 14:15 and 19:30 on the same day. The ITV continuing drama, Coronation Street was cancelled on 2, 3 and 4 June as it contained a storyline involving a death in the Lake District and a violent storyline featuring a gun siege in a factory. The episodes were rescheduled to run the following week due to the Cumbria massacre. An episode of the Channel 4 panel game You Have Been Watching, which was due to be broadcast on 3 June 2010, was postponed because it was a crime special.

In addition, pop singer Lady Gaga came under criticism after performing a murder scene at her concert in Manchester – as part of her Monster Ball Tour – just hours after the massacre. Comedian Frankie Boyle also attracted criticism for referring to the Cumbria tragedy on the day after the massacre. The Times journalist Giles Coren suggested Derrick Bird should read a copy of his book on anger management. He later apologised. Both Coren's initial remark and subsequent apology were made on his Twitter feed.

Memorials

On 9 June 2010, a week after the incident, memorial services were held in the West Cumbria towns affected by the shootings followed by a minute's silence at midday. The minute's silence for the Cumbria victims was also marked prior to David Cameron's second Prime Minister's Questions in Parliament. The funerals of the majority of Bird's victims were held at various churches in West Cumbria.

Wikipedia.org

Profile: Cumbria gunman Derrick Bird

BBC.co.uk

November 2, 2010

Taxi driver Derrick Bird sparked a massive police manhunt when he went on the rampage in west Cumbria in June, shooting dead 12 people and injuring 11 others.

His catastrophic and violent actions caused universal disbelief in the area, where he was known by many.

Bird, 52, of Rowrah - known as "Birdy" - was divorced with two grown-up sons and had become a grandfather in the weeks before the shootings on 2 June.

All accounts from friends, family, neighbours and colleagues, have described him as "quiet", "popular" and "a laugh".

And yet something made him shoot dead his own twin brother, David, then others known to him, such as the family solicitor and a colleague. He went on to kill and maim again and again, apparently at random, before taking his own life.

'You won't see me again'

Reports have circulated of a possible feud within his family or at work. But no-one has yet spoken of a man who showed any sign of being capable of mass murder, and police have said he had no history of mental illness.

His elderly mother, Mary Bird, was said to be "stunned" after learning the news that her son had murdered his twin and 11 others - Bird's brother's daughters have denied reports of any family feud.

A friend of Bird's, Peter Leder, told CNN that he was "an outgoing, well-known guy, who everyone liked".

But he said when they spoke, Bird told him: "You won't see me again."

Glenda Pears, manager at L&G Taxis in Whitehaven, said both Bird and one his victims - Darren Rewcastle - had been self-employed drivers and friends.

Ms Pears said Bird had been a taxi driver for 23 years and was a "real nice man".

She said one of her drivers witnessed the aftermath of the shooting in Whitehaven.

"The lad that's been killed [Darren Rewcastle] was friends with him. They used to stand together having a craic on the rank. He was friends with everybody and used to stand and joke on Duke Street."

One Whitehaven taxi driver - who did not want to be named - said he had known Bird for 10 years. He said he believed he had lived in the Whitehaven area all his life but that he rarely spoke of his family.

The man said Bird enjoyed foreign holidays, travelling to Thailand each year with friends. Others said he loved "tinkering" with his car and was a fan of motor sports and scuba diving.

He had not been aware of Bird owning a gun, or being a member of any gun club, he said. A neighbour also said he had never seen Bird carrying a gun but added that game shooting was not uncommon in the area.

The driver added: "He was a nice guy. He was quiet but we used to have a laugh. He was quite a friendly person."

Although some appeared to be unaware of his gun ownership, it later emerged that Bird obtained a shotgun licence back in 1995, and a firearms licence for a .22 rifle in 2007.

Police trawling through Bird's history said they now knew he had been dismissed from his job as a joiner at the Sellafield nuclear plant in Cumbria in 1990 after being convicted of stealing from his employer.

He received a 12-month suspended sentence, which - in accordance with the law and Home Office guidance - did not prohibit him from getting the gun licences.

A review published on 2 November concluded that Cumbria Police acted properly when it issued the licences, and existing gun licensing laws could not have prevented the tragedy.

The independent review, by Adrian Whiting of the Association of Chief Police Offiers, also said that Bird's actions could not have been predicted.

A similar view was held in the aftermath of the killings by friends unable to fathom his behaviour.

Michelle Haigh, the landlady of Bird's local pub, the Hound Inn in Frizington, described him as a "normal bloke".

He would often stop off at the pub, which is about three-quarters of a mile from his home, she said.

"He was a nice guy, nothing out of the ordinary. He would come into the pub, have a couple of pints, have a chat with his friend and go home.

"This is not in character with the Derrick Bird we know."

The landlady, 41, said no-one she had spoken to could think of any trigger for the fatal events.

A neighbour told the BBC Bird had lived on Rowrah Road for about 20 years and had never caused any problems, adding: "I know him, he's all right".

'Normal person'

Whitehaven councillor John Kane told the BBC Bird had always appeared to be "very placid... a very quiet man... kept himself to himself".

He added that "Something must have pushed him over the edge."

Sue Matthews, a telephonist at A2B Taxis in Whitehaven, said the gunman lived alone, adding that he was a "quiet fellow".

"I would say he was fairly popular. I would see him once a week out and about," she said.

In his home village of Rowrah, near Frizington, shocked neighbours were still coming to terms with what had happened.

Neighbour Ryan Dempsey, 26 - who lives next door but one - said Mr Bird was "very approachable" and would often sit on his front step, drinking tea and talking to passers-by.

He said he had never seen him angry or losing his temper.

"Nobody could have a bad word to say against him, as far as I know," he said.

However he said other neighbours had remarked that on Wednesday morning he had not been his usual friendly self, and had "looked straight through people", he said.

Derrick Bird's stunned neighbours describe 'placid and happy man'

Locals in disbelief over gunman's rampage, saying he was easygoing and friendly, and had recently become a grandfather

By Severin Carrell - Guardian.co.uk

June 2, 2010

Neighbours and passing friends remember Derrick Bird as a friendly, even-tempered man; the kind of neighbour with a ready smile, who would also stop for a chat. Their shock at his unprovoked shooting spree is resounding.

Ryan Dempsey, a neighbour, had known Bird since he was 10. "He was a very easygoing sort of fellow; never walked past without saying hello. The last time I saw him was last night or the night before, and he was just as happy as before. He waved through the window, nodded and smiled, and the next thing I hear is this tragedy."

Bird had a very good reason to be an apparently happy man: he had just become a grandfather. Last week, his son Graeme and his wife, Victoria, who lived only a few miles from Bird's ill-kempt and shabby cottage, had a son.

But today, the curtains in their home were tightly drawn. On the sitting room window sill was a row of greetings cards crammed tightly together. Their neighbours, alerted to the day's shocking events, were unwilling to talk. "I have no information," said a young woman next door.

The couple had retreated to Graeme's mother's home in the bucolic village of Lamplugh, just a few miles away, which is a rambling collection of farms, pubs and idyllic country homes surrounded by pastures and hedgerows plump with spring flowers. Lamplugh is also home to Bird's brothers, David and Bryan.

At the gate of the housing association home where Bird's former partner, Linda Mills, lives, a young police woman stood guard. She politely told reporters that no one inside was prepared to talk to the media. A family liaison officer was on their way.

While his son's and ex-partner's homes are smart, carefully tended and welcoming family homes, Bird's own cottage in the village of Rowrah has the air of neglect and loneliness. Rowrah is a small place, one of a string of hamlets and villages, mostly home to people who commute to Sellafield nuclear reprocessing plant down the coast or to Whitehaven and Workington.

Bird's home is one of 13 small two-up-two-down pebble-dashed cottages in a tight row opening out onto the street. Its paint and plasterwork are peeling and stained; a dusty upstairs bedroom window is paint-splattered. A rusting satellite dish leans upwards from under the eaves. The downstairs curtains were tightly drawn, but on the window sill were lawyers' letters and one from the Criminal Injuries Compensation board.

There were strong rumours reported in Whitehaven that Bird, known to locals as "Birdy" had had feuds with other taxi drivers and was known to the police. But for many who knew him, Bird was "very placid" and well known on the Whitehaven taxi ranks.

One man who knew him told BBC Radio 4 he appeared to be a mild-mannered, content individual: "I can't see how this piece [the murder spree] fits into his jigsaw. It's just completely out of place."

Dempsey, 26, who works for a power company, had first met Bird when Dempsey's parents bought their cottage two doors away 15 years ago. He knew him as a child and six months ago had taken over the property.

Dempsey never saw Bird – a man reputed locally to be keen on railways – with guns or heard him talk about an interest in shooting or any membership of a shooting club. "I wasn't aware of it; I didn't see him with a firearm," he said.

But in this rural area with its gamekeepers and farmers, he said, shotgun ownership was common. He had heard that Bird had used a shotgun on his victims. But then many gun owners tend to keep their firearms out of sight.

"I can't remember seeing him with a firearm, no. Like I say, my dad is a gamekeeper and my dad doesn't like people openly seeing him with a firearm. It just puts people off".