Timeline of deadly rampage

This is a timeline of the events on 2 June that saw taxi driver Derrick Bird shoot dead 12 people and injure 11 more in west Cumbria.

The rampage ended when 52-year-old Bird took his own life.

EARLY HOURSBird murders his twin brother David at his home at High Trees Farm in Lamplugh, although the body is not found until later.

Reports have suggested that the brothers had rowed over a will before the killing.

0530 BSTBird is seen lurking outside the home of family solicitor Kevin Commons in Yeat House Road, Frizington, according to schoolmate, Iris Carruthers, 49.

1020 BSTCumbria Police receive the first call reporting shots fired in Frizington.

Armed officers are sent and find Mr Commons dead in the driveway of his home.

1030 – 1135 BSTLabelled the “second phase” of the killings by police, in which Bird shoots dead 10 people during a 45-mile rampage.

1033 BSTA second call made to police reports shots fired in Duke Street, Whitehaven, where taxi driver Darren Rewcastle dies. Fellow cabbie Don Reed is shot in the back but survives.

Cumbria Police deploy every armed officer in the county in response to the shootings.

After hearing shots fired, a neighbourhood policing officer based at Whitehaven police station, in Scotch Street, sees a grey taxi with a shotgun pointing out of the front passenger window.

After sending out an alert, he jumps into a vehicle driven by a Whitehaven man and follows Bird’s taxi.

The gunman appears to slow down as he passes another taxi travelling in the opposite direction. As the two cars draw alongside each other, Bird is seen shooting at the passing motorist.

As the officer stops to administer first aid to the injured man and his female passenger, who is also shot, two other officers in a police van take over the pursuit.

Bird pulls into a driveway, turns and points his gun at the unarmed officers. As they are blocked from reversing by traffic, Bird drives off at speed.

The unarmed officers’ chase, in a vehicle deemed unsuitable for high-speed pursuit, is unsuccessful.

Bird drives south, firing at will as he goes. RAF helicopters are drafted in to help police with a “massive land and air search”.

Public warnings are issued to people in Whitehaven, Egremont and Seascale to stay inside.

1100 BSTBrother David Bird’s body is found.

1100 – 1135 BSTBird continues to murder and injure.

• Kenneth Fishburn, 71, a retired Sellafield worker, is shot dead in Egremont
• Susan Hughes, 57, is killed in the town as she walks home with her shopping

In the village of Wilton, Bird is seen banging on the door at the house of scuba instructor Jason Carey. Mr Carey is still in bed and does not get up in time to answer the door, according to neighbours.

An instructor at the diving club attended by Bird, Mr Carey had reportedly had a trivial row with the gunman.

• Retired couple Jennifer and James Jackson are shot dead in Wilton
• Part-time mole catcher Isaac Dixon, 65, is killed while talking with a farmer near Carleton Wood
• Rugby league player Garry Purdham, 31, is shot dead as he works in a field near Gosforth
• Retired Michael Pike, 64, is killed while riding his bike in Drigg Road, Seascale
• In the same road, Bird shoots dead Jane Robinson, 66, who is out delivering home shopping catalogues
• Estate agent Jamie Clark, 23, is shot at, although it is unclear whether he is killed by Bird’s bullets or the resulting crash in Gosforth Road

1230 BSTBird is seen alive for the last time by a known eyewitness.

Police find Bird’s car dumped in Boot with one gun inside, and realise he is on foot with a rifle.

1241 BSTCumbria Police name the suspect as Derrick Bird, 52, from Rowrah, near Frizington, and issue a photograph of him.

1330 BSTSellafield nuclear plant, close to the village of Seascale, goes into lockdown.

Bird is found dead in a wooded area near Boot.

Posted by gvaonline on Jun 14 2010. Filed under Worldwide News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry