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| Shot teenager's father makes plea | Shot teenager's father makes plea |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The father of a teenager shot dead has spoken for the first time since his murder to ask for help "to catch my boy's killers". | The father of a teenager shot dead has spoken for the first time since his murder to ask for help "to catch my boy's killers". |
| Tommy, a local builder, said Billy Cox, 15, was "not perfect" but he was "dearly loved as a son and brother". | Tommy, a local builder, said Billy Cox, 15, was "not perfect" but he was "dearly loved as a son and brother". |
| Billy was shot in the chest in the family home in Clapham, south London, on Wednesday afternoon. | Billy was shot in the chest in the family home in Clapham, south London, on Wednesday afternoon. |
| Police have stepped up patrols in the area following three teenage gun murders in less than two weeks. | Police have stepped up patrols in the area following three teenage gun murders in less than two weeks. |
| See a map of the shootings | See a map of the shootings |
| Mr Cox said: "I've been watching news about the two other boys shot and thought - these are only kids. | Mr Cox said: "I've been watching news about the two other boys shot and thought - these are only kids. |
| "They don't deserve that. The way they get hold of guns now is unbelievable. | "They don't deserve that. The way they get hold of guns now is unbelievable. |
| "I want everyone to get behind the police 100%. If you have anything to say, tell the police. We and all his family will miss him so much." | "I want everyone to get behind the police 100%. If you have anything to say, tell the police. We and all his family will miss him so much." |
| Billy was found dying by his sister who rushed inside the maisonette in Fenwick Place after hearing a "loud bang" just after 1530 GMT. | Billy was found dying by his sister who rushed inside the maisonette in Fenwick Place after hearing a "loud bang" just after 1530 GMT. |
| Elizabeth, 13, tried to administer first aid but could do nothing to save him, police said. | Elizabeth, 13, tried to administer first aid but could do nothing to save him, police said. |
| Billy was later pronounced dead at the scene. | Billy was later pronounced dead at the scene. |
| 'Lively and likeable' | 'Lively and likeable' |
| There were no signs of forced entry at the house but the back door was open - suggesting Billy may have known his attackers. | There were no signs of forced entry at the house but the back door was open - suggesting Billy may have known his attackers. |
| He had been serving a supervision order for a burglary offence, was tagged and restricted to a curfew from 0700 to 1900 GMT. | He had been serving a supervision order for a burglary offence, was tagged and restricted to a curfew from 0700 to 1900 GMT. |
| Billy's shooting followed the deaths of James Andre Smartt-Ford, 16, and Michael Dosunmu, 15, both also gunned down in south London. | Billy's shooting followed the deaths of James Andre Smartt-Ford, 16, and Michael Dosunmu, 15, both also gunned down in south London. |
| He lived with Elizabeth, a talented ballet dancer, and parents Tommy and his Thai-born mother Kim. | He lived with Elizabeth, a talented ballet dancer, and parents Tommy and his Thai-born mother Kim. |
| He was a student at Ernest Bevin College in Wandsworth, where he was described as a "lively and likeable young man". | He was a student at Ernest Bevin College in Wandsworth, where he was described as a "lively and likeable young man". |
| However, he had left the school six weeks ago to attend a centre for "troubled and challenging" young people. | However, he had left the school six weeks ago to attend a centre for "troubled and challenging" young people. |
| Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair has set up a task force, including armed officers on the streets in response to the shootings. | |
| Family responsibility | |
| Home Secretary John Reid said he was prepared to meet south London MPs todiscuss the killings. | Home Secretary John Reid said he was prepared to meet south London MPs todiscuss the killings. |
| Mr Reid said that greater family responsibility was required alongside lawenforcement to tackle Britain's gun culture. | Mr Reid said that greater family responsibility was required alongside lawenforcement to tackle Britain's gun culture. |
| He said policing and prisons were only part of the solution. | He said policing and prisons were only part of the solution. |
| "This is a very serious and complex problem," he said during a visit to theproposed site of a new prison in Merseyside. | "This is a very serious and complex problem," he said during a visit to theproposed site of a new prison in Merseyside. |
| "These are terrible, awful, tragic crimes and no one must look for anyexcuses. | "These are terrible, awful, tragic crimes and no one must look for anyexcuses. |
| "We have to use a whole array of methods to tackle it, from police andprisons right through to demanding family responsibility." | "We have to use a whole array of methods to tackle it, from police andprisons right through to demanding family responsibility." |
| The Prime Minister told a youth conference in Glasgow:"This tragedy is not a metaphorfor the state of British society, still less for the state of British youthtoday, the huge majority of whom, including in this part of London, areresponsible and law-abiding young people. | The Prime Minister told a youth conference in Glasgow:"This tragedy is not a metaphorfor the state of British society, still less for the state of British youthtoday, the huge majority of whom, including in this part of London, areresponsible and law-abiding young people. |
| "But it is a specific problem, in a specific criminal culture amongstspecific groups of young people." | "But it is a specific problem, in a specific criminal culture amongstspecific groups of young people." |
| "It will require specific solutions to deal with guns and gangsas well as confronting broader questions of community and familyresponsibility," Tony Blair said. | |
| Opposition Leader David Cameron told GMTV family breakdownwas at the heart of the social problems which led to the shootings. | Opposition Leader David Cameron told GMTV family breakdownwas at the heart of the social problems which led to the shootings. |
| "When you look at the people caught up in these events, what you see is acomplete absence in many cases of fathers, and a complete presence of familybreakdown," he said. | "When you look at the people caught up in these events, what you see is acomplete absence in many cases of fathers, and a complete presence of familybreakdown," he said. |
| TEENAGE SHOOTINGS 1. 14 Feb: Billy Cox, 15, shot dead at his home 2. 6 Feb: Michael Dosunmu, 15, shot dead at his home3. 3 Feb: James Smartt-Ford, 16, is fatally shot at Streatham ice arena | TEENAGE SHOOTINGS 1. 14 Feb: Billy Cox, 15, shot dead at his home 2. 6 Feb: Michael Dosunmu, 15, shot dead at his home3. 3 Feb: James Smartt-Ford, 16, is fatally shot at Streatham ice arena |
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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. | 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. |