The family of a woman who was shot dead by her son on the doorstep of the family home before he went on to kill four other people have broken their silence as the inquest into the Plymouth shootings opens.
Jake Davison, 22, killed his mum Maxine, 51, after a row and then shot dead four others in a 12-minute attack on August 12, 2021.
Three-year-old Sophie Martyn, her father, Lee, 43, Stephen Washington, 59, and Kate Shepherd, 66, died on the evening of August 12 2021 in the Keyham area of the city.
Apprentice crane operator Davison then turned the pump-action shotgun on himself before armed police reached him.
Today Ian Arrow, senior coroner for Plymouth and South Devon, resumed the jury inquests into the five victims at Exeter racecourse.
Evidence will begin tomorrow but the hearing opened with tributes to Davison's victims, including his own mother, from family members.
Maxine Davison, a former trawlerwoman, was the first victim.
She was shot and killed by her son Jake at their home before he went on his killing spree.
Her son Josh said: "I sometimes find myself on autopilot only suddenly realising where I am and having to stop myself from automatically turning into Biddick Drive to see her. I struggle to come to terms with the fact she's not there anymore and I have no reason go there."
He made a long tribute to her in which he described her as “charismatic, passionate with a real passion for life...she was like a fairy blowing around in the wind.”
He said: “Mum was a complicated person. A lovely woman, well meaning and kind.
“She was polite and never wished to harm someone but if she didn't like someone she found it hard to hide it.
“She was warm and naturally funny, had a knack of making people laugh without trying.”
He described their life in Plymouth as stable and loving after many years of moving around.
He said: “I think she felt really safe and stable there. It was a calm quiet cul-de-sac and the neighbours were very friendly to us.
“Jake had autism. Mum was absolutely devoted and protective of him. He was very much the main focus of her life.”
He added: “I speak for my whole family, we are all appalled by what happened.
“We are grappling to understand our own health, emotions and bereavement following the incident.
“Even deeper than that we think we share the feelings of despair, hurt and loss of the Martyn, Washington and Shepherd families, knowing it was a member of our family was responsible for their loss.
“No words can describe the pain and heaviness of feelings this situation has caused.
“Our involvement in this inquest is to help prevent an event like this ever happening again.”
The wife of dad Lee Martyn, 43, who was tragically killed alongside his little daughter Sophie, three, paid loving tribute to the pair.
They were shot by Davison while out for a walk with their family dog Mable.
Rebecca Martyn, painted a picture of a loving, noisy family home with Lee and Sophie at the centre of it.
She said: “Lee loved football and supporting his beloved Everton.
“He made friends easily, usually through his love of football.
“He was such a talented footballer he had trials with Bayer Leverkusen and Watford but decided to got to work when he left school at 16
“He worked for Princess Yachts on the fitting crew.
“He loved the company of his colleagues. He was known and loved for for standing up for people and rallying the younger staff members for a good night out.
“Lee lavished attention in his wider family and was lovingly thoughtful.
“He was a happy, smiley and steady presence in the life of all who knew him.
“We accumulated a total of nine God children and Lee took this very seriously.
“As a family man he would have chosen to protect his family if ever confronted with a violent situation.
“He loved being a dad, both of our children adored him, he affectionately called her (Sophie) 'Daddy's Princess'”
She described her daughter as a “typical red-head...fierce and unwavering.”
She said: “She loved any opportunity to be active and was totally fearless in the swimming pool.
On August 12 Rebecca described how she took the children for a hike in the morning and got back to the house in the afternoon.
Her and Lee enjoyed an impromptu dance performance from the children before dinner then Rebecca took her son to gymnastics.
Lee then took their British bulldog Mable for a walk with Sophie pushing her childhood pram alongside with a teddy bear strapped in.
Rebecca then explained a friend text her at 7.14pm to say something was going on and 'four of five people' were involved including a lady and a little girl and she wanted to check to see if Lee and Sophie were safe.
She said she tried to get hold of Lee nine times by phone without success and “started to get worried”.
She walked to a police cordon to ask about Lee and Sophie and a police officer wrote their details on his glove and at 7.43pm police called her to say they were coming around to their home in Plymouth where they told her that her husband and daughter had been fatally shot.
Sheila Washington, who read her statement in person, recalled hearing 'bangs' from the gunshots while her husband Steve walked their two dogs.
She added: "Dogs were always a big part of our family and he loved walking Poppy, our husky cross and Drift, a husky.
On the night in question, she was at home while Steve took the dogs out for a walk.
He added: "Both dogs had separate leads and as he put them on, he said 'see you in a bit - won't be long.'
"A short while later I heard bangs. Often you would hear fireworks or children making noises so I did not give the bangs any further thoughts.
"Then I heard a bang on the front door. I opened it and Poppy came running into the house with her lead still attached. She was shaking. Not long after that I started hearing sirens."
Sheila said she went out to look what was going on but was unable to find Steve so returned home.
She added: "As time continued and he had still not returned, we were becoming increasingly worried.
"Then we had a knock on the door and the police told us that Steve had been shot and died.
"I am still finding it hard to come to terms with how Steve died and how he is no longer with us.
"Never could I imagine losing him in such horrendous circumstances."
John Shepherd, the husband of Kate Shepherd said in a statement, read by their eldest son George, he came across his wife as she was fighting for her life.
He said: "When she didn't arrive home as expected I was concerned and text Kate.
"It was very out of character for her not to answer her phone and I found it alarming so took the car out to go and look for her."
While looking for her he said he came across the scene of the shooting.
He added: "A whole team of people from the emergency services were working on someone. It was Kate. There were screams around her. I could only see her feet.
"Kate was then put into an ambulance. I was taken into a police car and driven to Derriford Hospital."
"Kate was taken directly into theatre. After the doctor told me she had died I felt numb. We were all in shock."
Paying tribute, he added: "Her empathy, compassion and care for others was outstanding. I have made thousands of decisions in my life, but the best by far was marrying Kate."
The couple's eldest son George paid tribute to her artistic nature. He added: "She was colourful in every way.
"She will live forever in our hearts."
The inquest, at Exeter Racecourse, continues.
