Police identify victims after England shooting rampage

London, England (News Today) - Police on Thursday began identifying the victims of a series of drive-by shootings in northern England that left 12 people dead and 11 wounded before the gunman killed himself.

Authorities named one of the victims as local solicitor Kevin Commons, 60, who was a senior partner in the law firm KJ Commons and Co.

Cumbria Police said he was found dead in the driveway of his house in Frizington on Wednesday afternoon.

Queen Elizabeth issued condolences, saying she was "deeply shocked" by what happened.

"In asking you to pass my deepest and most heartfelt sympathy to the families of all those who were killed or injured, and to the injured themselves, I am sure I share in the grief and horror of the whole country," the queen said.

Gun laws tightened after massacres

Police also released a map tracing the route that suspect Derrick Bird, 52, is believed to have traveled on his rampage through the region on Wednesday.

The route begins near the village of Lamplugh and winds through Cumbria, taking in the seaside towns of Whitehaven and Seascale before ending up farther inland near Boot, in the Lake District.

Police lifted the cordons at most of the 30 separate crime scenes, but Bird's house in Rowrah, near Frizington, remained one of those roped off, they said.

Forensic experts were examining two weapons seized by police, a shotgun and a .22 rifle fitted with a telescopic sight. Police said Bird was a licensed firearms holder for 20 years and they were investigating whether the license covers the seized firearms.

"The focus of the 100-strong squad of detectives investigating the incident is firmly on finding out why someone would want to take so many lives in such a short space of time," Cumbria Police said in a statement. "Officers and staff are conducting forensic evidential searches and tests across the area at each location."

Police finished searching the known and possible routes Bird could have used -- an area covering 150 kilometers (93 miles) -- and said as a result they were not expecting to find any more victims.

Of the wounded, eight remained in hospitals Thursday, with four in stable and four in "comfortable" condition, police said.

Peter Leder, who described himself as a friend of Bird's, told CNN he spoke to Bird on Tuesday night and Bird told him, "You won't see me again."

Leder said Bird had been an independent taxi driver in Whitehaven for more than 20 years and described him as "an outgoing, well-known guy, who everyone liked." Bird was divorced several years ago and has two children, both boys, who had moved away from home, he said.

Bird is close to his mother, who is ill in a local nursing home, Leder said.

He said his friend enjoyed scuba diving, went on several diving trips abroad and practiced regularly at the Whitehaven swimming baths. Leder said he knew Bird had guns but said he was not violent.

The Citroen that police said Bird was driving at the time of the shootings was his regular cab, Leder said.

"I can't shed any light on it," Leder said. "... He was a decent guy, and I'm sorry for what's happened."

Source : CNN

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