12 Dead in England Shooting Rampage

LONDON, June 2, 2010— -- At least 12 people have been killed and 25 injured by a gunman who went on a rampage in Northern England before killing himself.

The suspect, identified as local taxi driver Derrick Bird, apparently drove through several small towns, shooting as he went. Police are investigating 30 different crime scenes and carefully are tracing the suspect's route, concerned that they could find more bodies.

The first shooting occurred at 9:35 a.m. GMT, when Bird opened fire on Duke Street in the Cumbrian town of Whitehaven. Among the victims was a young woman.

"She died in our arms, we tried to shake her and said, 'Come on, come on, the ambulance is coming,' but she wasn't conscious," eyewitness Barry Cross told the BBC News.

"They were serious gunshot wounds," Cross said. "It looked like he must've seen her and pulled over, walked out with his sniper and shot her point blank in the back of her head."

Before running to help her, Cross had seen Bird.

"He had this absolutely huge, like, sniper rifle," Cross said. "It was almost touching the floor, massive scope and everything."

Terrified eyewitnesses described seeing 52-year-old Bird driving through Whitehaven with a gun pointed out of his car window, firing indiscriminately.

Every armed police unit from the area was called in for the manhunt and extra support was brought in from surrounding areas. Helicopters and search dogs sought Bird.

"The search has now extended to the Ambleside, Coniston and central lakes areas, so police are urging all members of the public in these areas and across the West Lakes area from Whitehaven to Ravenglass to go indoors and stay there until further notice," Cumbrian police said.

The area of the shootings in northern England, known as the Lake District, is very popular with tourists. After police warnings, hotel and pub owners rounded up guests and walkers nearby, keeping them away from the windows.