WHITEHAVEN, England, June 6 (Reuters) - Derrick Bird was "a loving, cheerful character" who will be missed by family and friends, the two sons of the taxi driver who shot dead 12 people in Cumbria said on Sunday.
In their first public statement since their father drove through towns, villages and countryside last Wednesday shooting at people before killing himself in a rural beauty spot, Graeme and Jamie Bird said they did not know why he did it.
"We are utterly devastated about the death of our father, Derrick Bird. To us, he was the nicest man you could ever meet. He was a loving Dad, and recently became a grandfather," the sons said in a statement read out to media by a local vicar.
"We would like to say that we do not know why our Dad committed these horrific crimes. We are both mortified by the sad events," they said, sending their condolences to the families of those killed or injured in the rampage.
Derrick Bird, 52, killed his twin brother David, the family solicitor and a taxi driver whom he knew, but other victims appeared to have been targeted at random.
Jim Marshall, the vicar of Lamplugh, also read out a statement from Derrick and David Bird’s older brother, Brian, and his family.
"The loss of both my brothers is devastating. They were both very caring family people," the statement said.
"We cannot offer any reason why Derrick took it upon himself to commit these crimes. We are in shock and in dismay."
Police have been searching for clues about what could have triggered the killing spree by Derrick Bird, who had an old conviction for theft but no known record of violence and was described by neighbours as a friendly, laid-back man.
Police have said that Bird was under investigation over his tax affairs, but have not confirmed media reports of a feud with his twin brother over money given to David by their late father, or of an argument with a fellow taxi driver.
