A major police search is underway to find a gunman after a 16-year-old boy was shot dead in south London.
The teenager was pronounced dead at the scene in Paradise Road, Stockwell, after police received reports of a shooting at around 3.20pm on Tuesday.
A Metropolitan Police statement said officers are working to identify the teenager and contact his next of kin.
No arrests have been made in connection with the shooting, which took place on the Studley Estate not far from Stockwell Tube station.
Superintendent Gabriel Cameron, who is leading the local policing response, said: ‘This is an enormously shocking incident which I imagine will cause huge distress to the local community.
‘Our thoughts are with the young boy’s family at this devastating time.
‘Local officers are on the scene gathering CCTV and speaking to witnesses to piece together what has happened.
‘They will be supported by specialist homicide investigators shortly.
The teenager was pronounced dead at the scene in Paradise Road, Stockwell, after police received reports of a shooting at around 3.20pm on Tuesday
A police statement said officers are working to identify the teenager and contact his next of kin
No arrests have been made in connection with the shooting, which took place not far from Stockwell Tube station
‘Please rest assured we will work around the clock to identify and find those responsible.’
Aftab Khan, 18, who runs a corner shop near to the road, said the teenager often came into the store and described him as a ‘nice kid’.
He told the Telegraph: ‘He would always say hello. I saw him yesterday – he bought a bottle of Fanta. He would always pay me back if I let him have a drink for free if he didn’t have enough money. He was a good guy.
‘Now I can’t go outside – I’m scared. It’s a very bad area.’
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said: ‘My thoughts are with the family, friends and wider community in Stockwell following the shocking fatal shooting of a 16-year-old boy.
‘This abhorrent violence has absolutely no place in our city. I am in close contact with police leaders – an investigation is underway to find those responsible and local residents will see increased patrols in the local area.
‘I urge anyone with information to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. There is no honour in staying silent.’
The death was described as a ‘life wasted’ by Florence Eshalomi, the MP Vauxhall & Camberwell Green. She also said she was ‘very sad’ to hear of the fatal shooting.
A crime scene and cordon remains in place at the scene while emergency services continue their enquiries
Officers received reports of a shooting on Paradise road at 3.21pm on Tuesday
A cordon remains in place at the scene as police launch a murder investiagtion
An air ambulance was called to the scene where a 16-year-old boy was pronounced dead
The scene in Paradise Road, Stockwell, south London
A Lambeth Council statement said: ‘We’re devastated to hear that a teenage boy has been shot in Stockwell today.’
A Stockwell resident told MyLondon: ‘Stockwell has always crimes like phone theft, but overall it’s a friendly area. It’s shocked me to the core to think this could happen to a child here.
‘It’s terrible to think of what his family is going through. It’s so wrong that teenagers should worry about things like this when they should be enjoying their childhood.’
A crime scene and cordon remains in place at the scene while emergency services continue their enquiries.
A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: ‘We were called at 2.32pm today to reports of a shooting in Paradise Road, SW4.
‘We sent a number of resources to the scene, including an ambulance crew, a paramedic in a fast response car, a paramedic from our tactical response unit and an incident response officer.
‘We also dispatched London’s Air Ambulance.
‘Very sadly, despite the best efforts of our crews, a person was pronounced dead at the scene.’
This is a breaking news story. More to follow.