The Metropolitan Police commissioner has called an emergency meeting after the third fatal shooting of a teenager in south London in less than two weeks.
The Metropolitan Police commissioner has called an emergency meeting after the third fatal shooting of a teenager in south London in less than two weeks.
A 15-year-old boy was found dead in his own home in the Fenwick Place area of Clapham North on Wednesday afternoon.
A 15-year-old boy was found dead in his own home in the Fenwick Place area of Clapham North on Wednesday afternoon.
Police were called to the house after a relative discovered his body.
Police were called to the house after a relative discovered his body.
Sir Ian Blair will discuss the recent shootings with senior staff and officers from the Met's Specialist Crime Directorate.
Sir Ian Blair will discuss the recent shootings with senior staff and officers from the Met's Specialist Crime Directorate.
On 6 February, 15-year-old Michael Dosunmu was shot dead in the bedroom of his Peckham home.
On 6 February, 15-year-old Michael Dosunmu was shot dead in the bedroom of his Peckham home.
The vast majority of young people on the Fenwick Estate and in the entire area are decent young kids Peter RobbinsLambeth councillor
Police believe he was a victim of mistaken identity.
Police believe he was a victim of mistaken identity.
Three days earlier, 16-year-old James Andre Smartt-Ford died after he was shot at Streatham Ice Arena.
Three days earlier, 16-year-old James Andre Smartt-Ford died after he was shot at Streatham Ice Arena.
The community needs to feel that there is tough policing on the ground Damien HockneyMetropolitan Police Authority
The boy found dead at his home in Clapham North has not yet been formally identified, although his parents are understood to have been informed.
The Specialist Crime Directorate includes the Operation Trident unit, which is tasked with investigating gun crime in the black community.
Forensic teams will continue searching the house where he was found and the local area and a post-mortem examination will be held later.
The Clapham North investigation is being handed over to Trident, whose vice chair, Claudia Webbe, told BBC News that gun crime was "devastating London's streets".
'Fashionable accessory'
"What we really do need to deal with is the prevention in the first place, long before that bullet has been fired," she said.
Peter Robbins, a Lambeth councillor, said although gun crime was a problem, it was wrong to portray the estate as "the Wild West".
"Far too many of our young people know where, how and whom to get a gun from and that is worrying."
"There seems to be a willingness for people to almost ignore guns when they see them... but I just do want to make the point that the vast majority of young people on the Fenwick Estate and in the entire area are decent young kids," he said.
Neighbours of the boy shot in Clapham North said they were shocked.
"There is a minority of young people involved in gun crime and that's what needs to be addressed."
Christina Piludu said: "I know he was a good boy. He always respected all of us.
The Clapham North investigation is being handed over to Operation Trident, which investigates gun crime in the black community.
"He was always in the square playing with his bike, talking with the other children, just normal."
'Easy access'
Forensic teams were carrying out a search of the house in Clapham North and a post-mortem examination will be carried out on Thursday.
Claudia Webbe, who is vice chair of the independent advisory group to operation, told Radio Four's Today programme that guns were becoming part of everyday life for some young people.
'Potential motive'
"What we're actually seeing is gun crime going... where guns have gone from the domain of the crack cocaine dealer to now the every day accessory, fashionable accessory that young people want to be seen with unfortunately.
The victim has not yet been formally identified, although his parents are understood to have been informed.
"It is almost become a lifestyle choice where its become part of a culture of being part of a gang and I think that that's what's motivating young people, where almost the gun has become a status symbol."
In a statement, Scotland Yard said: "As is routine, links with recent murders in south London will be investigated but we must retain an open mind as to any potential motive.
A community worker in south London, Jennifer Blake, told BBC Breakfast that families needed to pull together to deal with the problem of gun crime.
"We would like to reassure the communities in south London that we are taking the current situation very seriously and are doing everything in our power to find those responsible."
"Parents need to know more about, and understand more about, where these things are coming from - getting to know more about who... the groups that they're moving with... there's a concern with parents because they want to know where these guns are coming from and how easy access they are."
Damien Hockney, from the Metropolitan Police Authority, added: "The community needs to feel that there is tough policing on the ground.
"They also need though to feel there is some sort of engagement with the community and above all... with younger people and those... young black men who are caught up in this gun crime."
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Have you been affected by gun crime? If you have anything you would like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below. Your messages will not be published.
