two young boys are hailed heroes after it was revealed they knocked on doors and told residents to stay inside while the plymouth incel gunman roamed the streets
Two young boys have been commended for knocking on doors and telling people to stay inside as Plymouth gunman Jake Davison carried out his murderous rampage.
The heroic pair may have saved residents lives by running ahead of the 22-year-old incel gunman and warning people of the massacre unfolding in a quiet neighbourhood in Plymouth last Thursday.
Their brave and selfless actions were hailed today following a minute's silence held across the city to remember the five victims of Britain's worst mass shooting for a decade.
Police chiefs, officers, council leaders and paramedics all attended the ceremony to pay tribute to Thursday's victims, Maxine Davison, 51, the gunman's mother, Lee Martyn, 43, and his three-year-old daughter Sophie, Stephen Washington, 59, and Kate Shepherd, 66.
All five were fatally shot during a horrific 12-minute killing spree by Davison. Four died at the scene while Ms Shepherd, the last victim, died later in hospital.
Relatives of Lee and Sophie Martyn attended the 11am vigil at the city's Guildhall and fought back tears while tributes were being paid.
Kevin Sproston, local leader of the neighbourhood watch scheme, said the Plymouth suburb of Keyham, where the shootings took place, is 'grieving'
Speaking at the Plymouth Guildhall, he said: 'Collectively we will support each other and help bring back a community that we would want our children to inherit.
'I would like to thank on behalf of the community the emergency services for their bravery and quick responses to helping those in Keyham. Your efforts are heroic and many residents want me to pass on their deep and heartfelt thanks.
'Whilst speaking about heroic people I want to personally thank the young adults, teenagers and youth of Keyham that have kept our vigil clean and came to the park early to help the neighbourhood watch set up.
'Also the two young boys whose brave actions on the day of the shooting saved lives. Your actions and bravery have been a constant source of inspiration to myself and others and I thank you so much.'
One local said: 'The two lads were amazing. Absolutely brilliant. They rallied around to get people out of the way. They are both heroes.'
Silence fell over Plymouth this morning as hundreds gathered to pay their respects to the five people killed in the UK's worst mass shooting in a decade
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Grieving families joined local leaders and around 200 mourners outside the city's Guildhall at 11am for a moment together in between tribute services and vigils
At a sombre commemoration this morning outside the Guildhall in Plymouth, local leaders asked people across the country to 'stand together' and join the city in its grief
Mourners fell silent as five gongs, to represent each of the victims, were sounded and everyone paused for the minute's silence. A further five gongs were then sounded
Gunman Jake Davison, 22, launched a horrific killing spree in the Keyham area of the city, shooting and killing five people before turning his shotgun on himself
Sophie and Lee were rushed to nearby Derriford hospital, where Lee's wife Becky works, but both passed away despite the medics' best efforts. Sophie was pushing a toy pram when the gunman struck
Jake Davison's mother Maxine was the first to be killed. She and other relatives are claimed to have begged the police and NHS to help him with mental health problems
66-year-old Kate Shepherd was Davison's final victim, and was gunned down by Blush hair salon in Plymouth
At Keyham's North Down Crescent Park a short distance from where the shootings took place, a further 70 people observed the minute's silence together
Addressing the mourners outside the Guildhall, Keyham community leader Kevin Sproston said: 'The solidarity, love and support shown by Plymouth and the UK towards Keyham has been overwhelming and we thank you for all your kind messages, it means a lot'
Davison started his killing spree by breaking down the door of his 51-year-old mother Maxine's house in Biddick Drive and murdering her.
Armed with a shotgun, he then went out into the street and killed Sophie Martyn, aged three, and her father, Lee Martyn, 43, who bravely tried to shield his daughter from the bullets.
In the 12-minute attack, Davison then killed Stephen Washington, 59, in a nearby park before shooting 66-year-old Kate Shepherd, who later died at Derriford Hospital.
He then turned the gunman on himself.
Mourners fell silent as five gongs, to represent each of the victims, were sounded and everyone paused for the minute's silence. A further five gongs were then sounded.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson also took part in the silence from Downing Street, while Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer stood with police officers in Wolverhampton.
Addressing the mourners outside the Guildhall, Keyham community leader Kevin Sproston said: 'The solidarity, love and support shown by Plymouth and the UK towards Keyham has been overwhelming and we thank you for all your kind messages, it means a lot.
Shaun Sawyer, chief constable of Devon and Cornwall Police , joined other dignitaries in front of the Guildhall including police and crime commissioner Alison Hernandez and Plymouth MP Luke Pollard
Prime Minister Boris Johnson also took part in the silence from Downing Street. In a statement last week he said: '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'
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds stood beside police officers in Wolverhampton to honour the minute's silence held at 11am today
'At the moment Keyham is grieving. We grieve because we love and grief is love.
'We are in shock, feel guilty and angry about the events surrounding the deaths of our beloved community members because we love.
'It is that love and energy that we can now use to being about change. As a community we will look to restore and rebuild together.
'Collectively we will support each other and help bring back a community we want our children to inherit.'
Joining them was Shaun Sawyer, chief constable of Devon and Cornwall Police, police and crime commissioner Alison Hernandez and Plymouth MP Luke Pollard.
Cordons around the scene on Biddick Drive and Henderson Place have now been lifted, with several tributes and flowers left by mourners.
Cordons around the scene on Biddick Drive and Henderson Place have now been lifted, with several tributes and flowers left by mourners
Davison first murdered his own mother, Maxine, at her home nearby, before going outside and randomly killing schoolgirl Sophie Martyn, her father Lee, 43, and dog walker Stephen Washington. He then crossed a road to a hair salon where he shot and fatally injured Kate Shepherd, 66
Since the tragedy, tribute have been flooding in for victims Maxine Davison, 51, Lee Martyn, 43, his daughter Sophie Martyn, three, Kate Shepherd, 66, and Stephen Washington, 59
Floral tributes to the victims of the shooting at North Down Crescent Park
Nearby on Keyham's North Down Crescent Park, a further 70 people observed the minute's silence together.
Devon and Cornwall Police have said they will keep a 'highly visible police presence' in the area for the rest of Monday.
Forensic team are also continuing their search of 17 Biddick Drive, where Davison lived.
A candlelit vigil is also planned to take place in the neighbouring Cornish town of Saltash this evening.
A post on a community group read: 'There will be a Candlelit Vigil on Jubilee Green, on Monday 16th August, at 8.45pm, remembering those who tragically lost their lives in Keyham, Thursday 12th August.
'Livewire Youth Music will be open afterwards for teas and coffees, and they will be providing support through their Mental Health team, should anyone wish to talk in a safe space.
'You are welcome to bring a torch or you can use your mobile phones.'
Meanwhile, the Government has announced firearms applicants will be subject of social media checks.
Questions are continuing to mount over how Davison, who took his own life after the shooting spree, was able to obtain a firearms licence.
All police forces in England and Wales are being asked to review their current firearm application processes, as well as assess whether they need to revisit any existing licences.
Social media usage by Davison suggested an obsession with 'incel' culture, meaning 'involuntary celibate', as well as an interest in guns and the US.
An investigation is already under way by the Independent Office for Police Conduct into Davison's possession of a shotgun and a firearms licence.
It will look at why Devon and Cornwall Police returned Davison's gun and firearms permit to him last month, after it was removed following an allegation of assault in September last year.