Feud about will may have sparked Cumbria shootings
British police were today investigating what sparked gunman Derrick Bird's killing spree amid reports he was involved in a bitter family feud.
The taxi driver yesterday ran amok in Cumbria killing 12 people including colleagues and random passers-by.
It is believed his first victim was twin brother David and reports suggest the pair were locked in a row over a will.
It is also thought family solicitor Kevin Commons is among the dead. Last night a business associate of Mr Commons, David Whyte, said he expected a statement from his law firm today.
The massacre began yesterday morning with the first reports of gunshots in Whitehaven at 10.30am outside a taxi rank.
Bird produced two guns - believed to be a .22 rifle with telescopic sight and a shotgun - and shot fellow taxi drivers in Duke Street, killing Darren Rewcastle.
One driver, who refused to be named, said: "All of the taxi drivers were friends. But I heard there was an argument on the taxi rank."
Bird, who had reportedly just become a grandfather, then drove through the picturesque county spraying shots at anyone in his path.
His victims included:
* Garry Purdham - A popular rugby league player who was a farmer's son, in his early 30s with two young children. He died as he worked in a field near Gosforth;
* Jane Robinson - Shot dead yards from the home she shared with her twin sister Barrie in Seascale. She was unmarried and in her 70s and died while delivering Betaware catalogues;
* Michael Pike - The 64-year-old was blasted to death while cycling in Seascale. His son Jason called him a "much-loved husband, father and grandfather".
* Kenneth Fishburn - A retired Sellafield worker who died in in Egremont. Friend Karl Scarr described him as a "nice guy".
As Bird drove his taxi - windscreen smashed and guns aimed from the driver's seat - police launched a frantic three-hour manhunt.
It ended with the discovery of his body 20 miles away in woods near the hamlet of Boot. He had taken his own life.
As well as the 12 dead, 11 others were injured. Three remain in a critical condition in hospital and another five were said to be "serious".
Last night the Queen said she was "deeply shocked" by the shootings and shared the nation's "grief and horror".
Deputy Chief Constable Stuart Hyde of Cumbria Police said there were 30 separate crime scenes and described it as the "most exceptional, challenging incident" the county had faced in a long time.
The force has launched a "full and thorough" investigation looking at Bird's history, access to guns and motives for the shootings, he added.
Those who knew Bird - a divorced father of two - painted a picture of a normal, hard-working man.
But his friend Peter Leder said Bird had been aggravated the night before the killings, telling him: "You won't see me again."
Eyewitnesses to the carnage said police were desperately telling people to stay indoors as Bird remained at large.
One witness said: "I heard the first shots and the next thing you know police were here, there and everywhere.
"They started telling people to get into the shops and to stay indoors. It was total carnage."
Home Secretary Theresa May will make a comment to the House of Commons later today.
Bird's cousin Joy Ryan spoke of her shock at the mass killings.
She told GMTV that Bird had been "chuffed to bits" about the recent birth of his grandson.
Local MP Jamie Reed said a huge "sense of grief" was setting in as people in west Cumbria began to come to terms with yesterday's tragic events.
Speaking to GMTV, the Labour MP for Copeland said: "It is an incredibly close-knit community, it is one of our great strengths. If you hurt one of us you hurt all of us, and that is the way we are, that is how we feel today."
He added: "We will be doing everything we can now as a community, coming together to help the families of the victims, to help everyone that has been affected by this. That is our priority."
Deputy Chief Constable Stuart Hyde confirmed this morning that Bird was a licensed gun holder.
He said: "He had a shotgun certificate and a firearms licence for weapons but we do not know at this stage whether the weapons that we recovered are those he was licensed for.
"A detailed ballistic examination is being undertaken to confirm this."
He declined to confirm the weapons were a shotgun and rifle.
He also confirmed that Kevin Commons, a local solicitor, was among the 12 victims.
Mr Commons, 60, worked at KJ Common solicitors which had offices across the region.
