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A teenager shot dead in a South London grocery shop last night was an innocent bystander in a gangland shoot-out, Scotland Yard said today.
Ryan Bravo,18, was hit in the back as he shopped for groceries with his brother and cousin at Costcutter in Camberwell Road, Southwark.
Detectives have not traced two black teenagers they believe were the intended victims of the shooting. The pair, who were believed to be trying to get away from someone, forced their way inside the shop before several shots were fired.
At least one of those hit Mr Bravo, who police say was not involved in any confrontation or chase.
Detective Superintendent Gary Richardson, of Operation Trident, said: “It appears at this stage that the victim has no links to gang activity and that he was an innocent bystander - caught up in the cross fire and was not the intended target."
The murder is being investigated by officers from Operation Trident, the unit which specialises in gun crime within London’s black community.
The emergency services were alerted at 9.40pm and an ambulance was on the scene within five minutes, but paramedics were unable to revive the victim who was pronounced dead 45 minutes later, before he could be loaded into a waiting helicopter.
Costcutter is shut today and the area around it has been cordoned off while police guard the scene. One of the shop windows was shattered and tarpaulin has been hung from the shop front to cover the ground.
An Albanian man in his twenties, who was in the shop when the shooting began, said he was lucky to have survived the attack.
“I was in the shop last night buying cigarettes and four or five guys ran in,” he said. “I didn’t think anything bad was going to happen because I thought they were joking and laughing.
“They didn’t look scared or angry or anything. But then I heard shots, three or four. I’ve never seen anyone get shot before. It was like something out of a film.
“It was all over in about seven seconds. I just put all of my stuff down and ran out of the shop. A hysterical lady ran out after me. Two people ran out, got on mopeds and drove away. I’m lucky to be alive.”
A man selling flowers near the scene this morning said his friend witnessed the shooting. He said five young men were seen running down the busy shopping street at about 9.30pm.
The group all raced to get inside the shop, apparently in a bid to escape someone, his friend said.
The flower seller said that one young black man at the back of the group did not manage to make it inside the shop.
Last night’s killing was the 22nd fatal knife or gun attack on a teenager in London. It comes just two months after the murder of Arsema Dawit, who was stabbed on her 15th birthday. She was first assaulted by her suspected killer on the same road as last night’s shooting.
The latest murder of a young Londoner came just a week after a mass rally was held in Southwark to mark the death of David Idowu, 14, who was stabbed to death nearby.
Grace Idowu, the victims mother, lead a procession through the streets of the borough towards Downing Street urging Gordon Brown to introduce ‘more practical solutions’ to combat teenage violence.
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Britain seems to be getting just as bad as it is here in the US, and to think that we have the more liberal gun laws. Imagine what the UK would be like if they had our liberal gun laws, It would be an absoloute bloodbath.
Shane, New York, USA
Prison forever to those unadapted people! Cruel, animal, violent attitudes. Where are we heading for?
London is a very dangerous city. Stabbing, robbery, etc, etc
josep, Tarragona, spain
All these comments, and not one acknowledging that an innocent young man has lost his life, and that his family must be devastated! I live very close to where this happened. I feel for his family - especially his cousin and brother who witnessed it.
L Porter, London,
when the financial district in London's square mile decide to relocate, London will become a shell of a city. As Detroit is today. Was once wealthy, now a giant ghetto full of guns, drugs, gangs and decay. Already many of the poorest immigrants to UK choose to avoid London as it is too rough.
frank, slough, uk
The fact that these killers can walked into a shop and fired off bullets, killing an innocent by-standard speaks volumes of the failure by this government to tackle violent crimes. I have lived in London for over 10 years after moving from LA. I now feel less safe living in London than before.
d, london,
Well, I never!!! it appears from certain comments that British people don't commit crimes. or more specifically, white people don't commit crimes. This is a tragic incident and the best someone can say is to deport all foreigners??? The gov't needs to get tough on crime.
Mahela, Antigua,
My wife and I are both from South Central LA and we visited London 2 years ago and were both pretty much confused at why such anger and violence exists in London. Hip hop is supposed to be listened to and enjoyed for its meaning, it isn't made so people mimic its bad parts and leave out the good.
Anthony, Los Angeles, USA
I thought that these gang and criminal acitivities existed by far in South Africa (which is the current order of the day), but it seems that the foreign countries (Britain/America), which I adored and likened to the many English/American fairy tale stories we read with awe, appears no less than SA.
Sergie Ganas, Johannesburg, South Africa
This needs to be addressed quickly because murder is getting out of hand. All I will say is there is a certain "beef" goin on with Peckham and Brixton and if that was solved, i will guarantee way less murders in London
There needs to be ways to address situation like this and the black community
Sam, London, UK
hows about we lock these people away and give them hard labour to keep them active - never mind the cushy gyms etc that decent hard working folk would struggle to afford access to on such a regular basis - turn prison back into punishment instead of a nice relaxing place to get away from it all.
Jeff, Slough, Berkshire
yes let radio 2 deal with them max
steve wright, afternoon show,
maybe capital punishment is no deterrant; bring it back anyway
j.atkinson, derby, uk
This is what happens when COPS do it for the cash.
Few officers are even remotely interested in law enfrorcement.
trevor, westcliff, uk
The situation is bad. Remember that there is a trickle down effect of some black Africans and some white Euorpeans creating the Afro-Caribbean from slavery. It will take time for more stable two parent families to emerge among the descendants of slaves. Global Caribbean holidays exist for all .
Jane, East Anglia, UK
most of the innocent will suffer in one way or another on behalf of the direction brought upon this contry by successibe so called leaders and there destructive socio-econmic policies and liberalisms
so Mr Mayor...in your poulist and easy going approach..what now
tony trebilcck, manchester, uk
Dear M Wilson,
you say - It is all immigrants causing the crime . Stop immigration now.
and then list your address as France. Wilson is an awfully British name- are you by any chance....a migrant?
C Davies, London,
Lock those responsible for such crimes, away for life with hard labour in rock quarries, breaking large rocks into small ones. No televison or drugs. I am prepared to pay tax to keep such vermin out of harms way. Lesser crimes should be also be harshly punished. Time for Change.
Andrew, Ayr, Scotland
It's a simple equation, like it or not. Lack of God in people's lives from an early age, plus the rise of political correctness, equals the situation we have now. Abandon God and your society is guaranteed to disintegrate, as history has shown repeatedly. It is a fundamental law of the universe.
Alex Kerr, London, UK
Uche George
White families also think babies = houses. It's a class thing more then a race thing. These people need to be taught to change the way they think.
Chris, Ely
We should deport anyone carrying a knife, not just foreigners.
Let's send them all to the isle of wright
max, Croydon, Surrey
It sounds more as if London is becoming more dangerous than Lebanon during the 70s/80s.
I am glad that I am not dependent on a PC Labour government intent on building a 1984 surveillance state with anarchy on the streets instead of careful policing.
My heart goes out to the family.
Edwin, Bucharest,
Police work hard to catch these people. Judges just tap them on the head and say don't do it again . Send them to jail every time with no time off for good! behavior others will soon get the message Keep our country safe for the law abiding
I want my sons home safe and sound everytime they go
out
Garry, Maidstone,
Where are the noisy protests from the Civil Liberties Industry demanding that people are permitted to go about their life in safety and peace. The death of this young man, and dozens of others, was as much a miscarriage of Justice as any other championed by the 'Industry'. The Death Penalty worked!
Barry PURKIS, Havant, England
If the internet existed in 1983, when I lived in that part of south London, all these same comments would have appeared, because the situation was the same then. I remember murders happening in the area. If there is anything to be learned here, it is that poverty and violence don't go away.
Rajiv, New York City, USA
Its about time the Law was made by the people, for the people.
Its getting very obvious that the law hasnt got a clue about justice
Graham, Swansea, UK
Chris - Deport all foreign nationals? Where does it say that the victims or the culprits are foreign nationals? Or do you mean deport all black people? That's exactly the kind of attitude that creates the divisions in society that cause gangs and all the consequences that come with them to emerge.
Luke, Hereford,
Deport all foreign nationals caught carrying knifes.
Chris, Ely, England
There is a huge problem in the black community but everyone is too politically correct to call it as it is. The violence is the fruits of black men abandoning their children , and girls who think a baby equals flat. 69% of single parent famalies in London are afro carribean.
Uche George, London, England
It is all immigants causing the crime . Stop immigration now.
m wilson, fbidache, france
These people need a real deterrent like more armed police with the freedom to shoot armed criminals without months of inquiries and prosecutions from the pc brigade.
Luke Nicolaides, London, UK
This is tragic, it makes me so angry. I have worked in this area as a teacher for a few years and I have seen some very good work being done in the schools, but more needs to be invested into the lives of these young people. The voices and opinions of the young people need to be heard.
Natalie , Brighton, uk
Taking handguns away from responsible registered owners not only has not stopped gun crime, it appears to have created a culture of irresponsible violence. Perhaps because there are no longer any positive role models?
richard, horley, uk
If I was a gangster this would be my mindset: i have individuals i need to knock off, the jails are full, and in any case i probably will end up with some community work , or i go to jail, behave and get out in a few months..what heck its a win win siutation for me. Thats the situation in the UK.
Andy, Swindon, UK
Will the last decent person left in Britain please turn out the lights when they're leaving.
james, london,
Bring back the Death Penalty...it's about time thse murderers realised that there is a rope ready to make them swing. DNA has to be used though to prove a killers guilt. This country is fed up with all this mayhem and slaughter.
kirk, Rotherham, UK