The widow of the man who was shot and killed in Plymouth has paid tribute to her husband, describing him as “my soulmate”.
Stephen Washington, 59, says he’d assist anybody at any time.’ (Photos courtesy of SWNS/PA/Getty Images.)
Stephen Washington, 59, was shot and killed in Plymouth, and his family claims their lives have been flipped upside down in the blink of an eye.
On Thursday night, the loving grandpa was out walking his dogs when Jake Davison, 22, shot and killed five people.
As he was murdered, his two huskies are reported to have “run home to warn the family.”
Sheila, who is heartbroken, paid homage to her’soulmate’ today, telling him, ‘Fly high, you’ve earned your angel wings.’
Mr. Washington’s loved ones issued a statement requesting that the public respect their privacy while they mourn.
‘Following the terrible assault on our community on Thursday, August 12, we, the Washington family, would want to pay homage to Stephen by issuing the following statement.’
‘Stephen was a gregarious, extroverted person. He would assist anybody at any time, he loved animals, and he was often seen walking his two huskies around the neighborhood.
‘Stephen was a wonderful husband, father, grandpa, and best friend who dedicated his life to his family.
‘Our world has been turned upside down in the blink of an eye since the tragic events a few days ago, and he will be dearly missed by everyone who knew him.
‘Our thoughts and prayers are with the families who have also been touched by this terrible event.’
Grandpa was a dedicated family guy, according to his granddaughter. (Photo courtesy of PA)
Tributes have been placed in the Plymouth suburb of Keyham (Picture: PA)
On August 15, 2021, people lay flowers on Royal Navy Avenue (Picture: Getty Images Europe)
Davison shot people in the street at random with a pump-action shotgun after murdering his mother Maxine, 51.
In the 12-minute assault, his second and third victims were a 3-year-old child called Sophie and her father, Lee Martyn, 43.
He then shot and murdered Mr. Washington in a nearby park before shooting and killing Kate Shepherd, 66, at Derriford Hospital.
This morning, mourners gathered at St Thomas’ Church in Keyham to commemorate the deaths.
‘Those who have died, we must keep them in our prayers, but also the loved ones who have been left behind,’ said parish priest Father David Way following the ceremony.
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‘I’m hoping we can stop any cycle of anger and replace it with a cycle of love for everyone involved,’ she says.
Misogynists in chat rooms and sites devoted to incel subculture praised Davison as a “saint” on Saturday.
Before launching the UK’s deadliest mass shooting in more than a decade, the murderer stated online that “women are arrogant and entitled beyond belief.”
An inquiry into how he acquired a weapons license to carry out the murders before turning the pistol on himself has been started.
Following a required report by Devon and Cornwall Police, the police watchdog began an investigation, which includes preliminary evidence that Davison’s weapon and license were returned to him in early July this year.
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