OPERATION BRIDGE - Cumbria Constabulary

GPMS RESTRICTED
8.48 At 10:27 hrs Derrick BIRD arrived at the taxi rank and called Darren
REWCASTLE over to his taxi. As Darren bent down to speak to him,
Derrick BIRD shot Darren from close range in the lower face and
neck area with the first shot. As he fell, Derrick BIRD fired a second
shot striking him in the abdomen. Darren died as a result of multiple
gunshot wounds.
8.49 Derrick BIRD then drove a short distance to the front end of the taxi
rank where he stopped and pointed the .22 rifle at another taxi driver,
Donald REID.
8.50 Donald was shot in the back as he tried to take cover. He crawled
along the taxi rank towards the body of Darren REWCASTLE.
8.51 Derrick BIRD got out of his car and followed him, aiming his rifle as if
to shoot Donald again, until someone shouted at him to stop.
8.52 Derrick BIRD returned to the taxi without firing again, but did not
leave the area. He drove around the one-way system once more
returning to the Duke Street Taxi Rank where Donald was waiting for
the arrival of the emergency services.
8.53 As he drew level with Donald REID again, Derrick BIRD fired two
further shots out of the passenger window in his general direction,
which caused damage to nearby properties but caused no injury.
Donald REID survived his injuries.
8.54 At 10:31 hrs Derrick BIRD then drove along Duke Street and onto
Scotch Street away from the Taxi Rank.
8.55 At the junction with Scotch Street and Lowther Street he stopped his
car alongside another taxi driver, Paul WILSON who was walking
along the pavement.
8.56 Derrick BIRD called Paul over to him and as he looked down into the
passenger window he fired at him once with the shotgun hitting him in
the right side of the face. Paul survived these injuries.
8.57 As a result of the Duke Street and Scotch Street incidents, unarmed
police officers from Whitehaven Police Station were informed and
made their way directly to the town centre.
8.58 At 10:32 hrs the force control room issued a directive to all officers to
look out for the suspect vehicle but not to make any attempt to stop it.
8.59 The call centre supervisor made contact with the Tactical Advisor to
request his support for the FIM.
THIS REPORT IS EMBARGOED
UNTIL 4PM MONDAY 28 TH MARCH 2011
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