Gunman goes on deadly rampage in tourist Cumbria

LONDON — A gunman went on a deadly rampage in a tourist area of Cumbria on Wednesday, sparking a major police manhunt before the body of the suspected killer was found.At least four people were reported to have been killed in 11 different locations in the Lake District before police said they found the body of suspected gunman, 52-year-old gunman Derrick Bird."I can confirm that we've found a body in a wooded area ...which we believe to be Mr. Bird, together with a firearm," said Deputy Chief Constable Stuart Hyde.People in the area were warned to take shelter after the first killing was reported in the coastal town of Whitehaven, on the edge of the Lake District, which is popular with hikers and climbers."There are a number of fatalities... ambulance crews are in attendance across the area," said a spokesman for Cumbria Constabulary.Police declined to confirm local radio reports that at least four people had died, while the BBC reported that there had been shooting incidents in 11 different places.The body believed to be that of the gunman was found after he had abandoned his car in a rural area inland from Whitehaven.One witness said the gunman drove up alongside him at traffic lights by Whitehaven police station."As I turned past the police station, I saw all these officers running out and realised something major was going on," Alan Hannah, 68, of Great Broughton, told the Whitehaven News."I saw a man with a large shotgun and his windscreen was smashed. I drove through the red light to get... out of the way."The gunman was reported to be a quiet man who worked as a taxi driver locally."You would think he was a very placid, very quiet man, kept himself to himself so I do believe something pushed him over the edge," said John Kane, who knew him.Sue Matthews, a telephonist at A2B Taxis in Whitehaven, said he was known as "Birdy" and was self-employed and lived alone."I can't believe he would do that -- he was a quiet little fellow," she said, adding: "I know he had one son, who was grown up, and he lived

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