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Shot teenager's father makes plea Shot teenager's father makes plea
(30 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."
The problem lies within families and communities, and so does the solution David Cameron 'We knew it would erupt' Cameron urges control
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'
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". 'Law and order'
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.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 Meanwhile, politicians have claimed that an answer to the problem of gun crime may lie with families.
Home Secretary John Reid said he was prepared to meet south London MPs todiscuss the killings. Conservative leader David Cameron told a youth organisation in Oxfordshire: "In the last two weeks, five people have been murdered in south London - three of them teenagers.
Mr Reid said that greater family responsibility was required alongside lawenforcement to tackle Britain's gun culture. We have to use a whole array of methods from prisons to demanding family responsibility John Reid class="" href="/1/hi/england/london/6365187.stm">Guns become 'status symbol' class="" href="/1/hi/uk/6364529.stm">Police fight back against guns
He said policing and prisons were only part of the solution. "On the face of it, this is a law and order issue. But surely no-one imagines that we can stop crimes like this simply with better policing or better gun control.
"This is a very serious and complex problem," he said during a visit to theproposed site of a new prison in Merseyside. "The problem lies within families and communities, and so does the solution."
"These are terrible, awful, tragic crimes and no one must look for anyexcuses. Home Secretary John Reid said he was prepared to meet south London MPs to discuss the killings.
"We have to use a whole array of methods to tackle it, from police andprisons right through to demanding family responsibility." Mr Reid said that greater family responsibility was required alongside law enforcement to tackle Britain's gun culture.
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. He said: "We have to use a whole array of methods to tackle it, from police and prisons right through to demanding family responsibility."
"But it is a specific problem, in a specific criminal culture amongstspecific groups of young people." And the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, told a youth conference in Glasgow said a "careful response" was needed to the recent killings.
"It will require specific solutions to deal with guns and gangsas well as confronting broader questions of community and familyresponsibility," Tony Blair said. He said: "It will require specific solutions to deal with guns and gangs as well as confronting broader questions of community and family responsibility."
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.
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 arenaTEENAGE 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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