Shooting on Lakeside Road: man dead

I'm just back from the scene. It's another desperately sad waste of a young life. Here's what I have at the moment, although as ever in these situations update your fellow Bush readers with what you know via the comments:

• A man was shot at just after 1600 on Lakeside Road on the way down to Brook Green as you're leaving the Bush
• The man is thought to be in his 20s. An air ambulance was called but he had died by the time it got there
• I've been told by a source that the police suspect the attack was a gang-related crime, but officially this can't be confirmed until it's been investigated
• The attack will be investigated by Operation Trident
• No arrests have been made

Check back for updates as they come in...

Although the local media ignore some gun incidents that take place in the Bush, such as this one off Askew Road recently, I suspect there will be coverage of this one given the fact someone has died.

Some of you might recognise that this shooting has taken place in roughly the same area that Kodjo Yenga was murdered by a large gang. The local gang in these parts call themselves "Murder Dem Pussies" which is why you can sometimes see the initials "MDP" scrawled on walls and fences. I would imagine collars are being felt as we speak.

1830 UPDATE: BBC Radio have confirmed that eye witnesses saw the man shot as he sat inside a car. The police have secured the car and are examining it as we speak.

2000 UPDATE: I have just come back from the scene again where not only are there crowds of stunned local residents but a close group of people who I can only assume are in some way related to the victim. One woman in particular was clearly in a great deal of distress and was being helped away by both the others around her and the police. That is the human cost of this madness. 

2220 UPDATE - The Police have made an arrest according to the BBC. One man has been taken to a police station in relation to the killing. No further details as yet but keep checking back for more. In the meantime share your thoughts and information using the comments below.

0630 TUES UPDATE: A resident of Lakeside Road, the road in which this murder took place, has left a telling comment on this blog. S/he says this:

"I'm a resident on Lakeside Road, it was never the way it is now. They say clean up the streets well the government need to concentrate on doing exactly that but they want us to be doing their duty work for them!! Another life was taken. This sad sorry episode is just the beginning of a life sentence for this young man's family, and the impact on a community, yes I saw the body being taking away after hours of forensics doing what they do". 

The reference to the Government wanting people to do their work for them is something I heard someone else saying at the scene yesterday. This may be because, just at the time when we have killings like this one and other shooting incidents like the one on Askew Road on April 16th that didn't get any attention from the local media because nobody died - our Council and Government are cutting local police numbers.


0830 TUES UPDATE: A Police Incident Room has opened today under Operation trident, which investigates gun crime in the black community. Here is the statement the police have given me this morning:

"An incident room will open under detectives from Trident today (10 May). At present any witnesses or anyone with information should call police on 0300 123 1212. 

One man was arrested on 9 May in connection with the inquiry and remains in custody at a west London police station."

1230 TUES UPDATE: The Police have revealed that two people have now been arrested over this killing, which is being investigated by Operation Trident. Here is the full text of the statement a spokeswoman has just given me:

"Officers and the air ambulance attended, but the victim, aged in his 20's, was confirmed dead at the scene
A post-mortem is scheduled to take place at Fulham Mortuary on Wednesday, 11 May
We believe we know the identity of the victim and are in the process of tracing next-of-kin. We await formal identification to take place
Enquiries are on-going to fully establish the circumstances of the incident but at this stage it is known that the victim was sitting in the drivers seat of a parked car when he was shot by a lone suspect
We retain an open mind re a motive at this stage
Detective Inspector Mark Gower of Trident said:
"This incident happened at a busy time of the day just off the Shepherds Bush Road and there would have been lots of people in the area at the time.  There will be people who have witnessed what has happened and we urge you to come forward if you have any information, Trident understand and support the community and will work closely with witnesses who may have concerns about coming forward." 
Anyone with information is asked to call the Incident Room on 020 8733 4648; or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
One man was arrested on 9 May in connection with the inquiry and remains in custody at a west London police station".
Later on the same evening a teenage boy [B-17yrs] was arrested on suspicion of murder and is currently in custody at a west London police station". 

TUES UPDATE: If you want to have a sense of the divisions people feel in this community, that don't lead directly to things like this but perhaps create a climate where they are more likely to happen, read the comments section on this post. We've had someone who works for the local neighbourhood watch and then one young black lad who says the local white folk never talk to them just call the police. Depressing.

The Evening Standard has also published some of the rumours I have been hearing all day today but haven't managed to stand up or corroborate. Since they've gone ahead and published however here's what they say:

• The victim is thought to have been a case of mistaken identity. It was apparently a gang shooting that got the wrong person.
• The victim is from south London and originally from Ghana
• He was shot while seated in the driving seat of the car next to his girlfriend who raised the alarm.

UPDATE WEDS - The two individuals arrested over this case have been released on bail according to the BBC. More to follow.

UPDATE WEDS - The Borough Police Commander has been reading the many comments that have been made in the intense local debate this article has provoked. You can read what she has to say in response to some of your concerns by clicking here.

In the meantime here is a video I posted a month or so ago - events like this remind me of the murder of Jaabe Roberts on Askew Road coming up to a year ago next month. His mother left a poem on this blog in the weeks after his death which described the agony this inflicts on families. The video below captures the senselessness of it all.