My Daily Inquirer

Police on Thursday began identifying the victims of a series of drive-by shootings in northern England that left 12 people dead 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.

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.
Video: 'I didn't know he'd go out like this'
Video: David Cameron on Cumbria shooting
Video: Body of suspected gunman found
Map: UK shootings
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* Cumbria
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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.

UK gun laws tightened after massacres

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.

British Prime Minister, David Cameron on Wednesday said the government would do whatever it could to help the communities affected.

"When lives and communities are suddenly shattered in this way, our thoughts should be with all those caught up in these tragic events, especially the families and friends of those killed or injured," he said.

Armed police patrols and dog squads were dispatched in the hunt for Bird after the first shots were fired at 10:35 a.m. (5:35 a.m. ET) in Whitehaven on Wednesday.

Police issued a photo of him and urged members of the public to stay indoors until further notice. More shots were fired in the small towns of Seascale and Egremont, with officers attempting to track the suspect on land and by air while ambulance crews attended the victims.

Footage from one of the shooting scenes showed a covered body lying on a street.

Peter Leder, who said he was a friend of Bird's, told CNN he spoke to Bird on Tuesday night and was told: "You won't see me again."

Leder said Bird has 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 have moved away from home, he said. Bird is very close to his mother, who is very 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.

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

Source: News

Posted by Jessie James