Horror in leafy London suburb as father in his 20s is shot dead

A father n his 20s was shot dead just yards from his doorstep in a leafy London suburb in the early hours of this morning, leaving his family ‘devastated’.

Shocked neighbours say they heard a ‘single gunshot,’ followed by the ‘screeching of tyres’ just after 1am in a residential road in North Cheam, South West London today.

Armed police arrived about 15 minutes later and gave First Aid, but the victim was pronounced dead at the scene in leafy North Cheam, south west London.

Friends say the victim leaves a partner and a three-year-old son.

A teary pal, who had known the victim for over a decade, said: ‘I passed by earlier and saw one of my friends standing near the cordons with an empty bottle of brandy.

‘I knew something was up, then I found out it was him. I can’t believe it.’ 

The 23-year-old added: ‘He has a three year old boy who is now without a father.

‘I’m not saying he was an angel, but he was a genuinely nice bloke. He was happy, bubbly, all the good stuff. No one deserves that.’

The young man said he had last seen his friend about two weeks ago.

He added: ‘We were driving and he pulled up alongside me. We both said ‘hi,’ we were both alright and that was that.

‘Who knows the next time I would hear about him he’d be dead. The police told me he was shot in the head. I just hope it was quick. He lived right there across the road.’

The grieving friend, who said he has lived in the area for his whole life, described the neighbourhood as ‘lovely,’ adding: ‘Yes, there are groups of friends. But there are no gangs, no postcode wars. Nothing like that. It’s lovely here.’

His family have been informed but he has not yet been formally identified following the incident, which was London’s 53rd murder of the year so far. 

One woman, who lives directly opposite the murder scene, reported hearing a gunshot at around 1am.

The 28-year-old fashion designer said: ‘At about 1am I heard a single bang.

‘I thought, ‘that sounds like a gunshot,’ but thought nothing of it. Then I heard screeching of car tyres. When I heard that I ran to the window. But I couldn’t really make out anything.’

Around 15 minutes later, the woman, who requested not to be named, saw flashing lights as ambulances and police cars arrived at the scene.

The woman, a fashion designer at Arcadia, said: ‘There were about seven police cars and seven ambulances all turning up one after the other.

‘The road was covered in police. It is unheard of for the area. You hear of stabbings, but never a shooting.’

She added: ‘I’m shocked. Nothing like this has ever happened around here. It’s a calm, quiet, family neighbourhood.

‘My friends make fun of me for living in a posh area. So that makes it stand out.’

The resident lives with her father, brother, 20, sister, 13 and mother who said the victim had moved into the semi-detached house in March.

The woman, aged 57, reported that she complained to police and the council about loud parties and barbeques happening at the victim’s house.

She added: ‘I’m really annoyed. I told the council and the police about the disturbances, but they did nothing about it.

‘My message to them is that they should listen to residents. I had noticed an escalation in the area and I knew it was a matter of time before something happened.’

The mother-of-three said she had noticed ‘drug deals’ happening on the street next to her house for some time.

She added: ‘I often see people pulling up and exchanging things. I’m almost certain it’s drugs.’

Another neighbourhood corroborated reports of large gatherings at the victim’s house, but dismissed reports of problems saying they were just ‘doing what boys do.’

She also confirmed that the man had moved in just a few months before his death, and had been sharing the house with friends.

The 32-year-old, originally from Brixton, south London, added: ‘This is a nice family area, so I can understand why some people are disturbed by music and gatherings.

‘I grew up around Brixton. So, for me personally, it’s just boys having a good time. They were never abusive or rude to me. The victim was someone’s son and boyfriend. He was loved. It’s a sad loss of life.’

Detective Chief Inspector Richard Leonard said: ‘We are in the very early stages of our investigation and at this time need to hear from residents or people who were walking or driving through Brocks Drive around the time of the incident.

‘Did you see anyone acting suspiciously? No matter how insignificant it may seem, you could have crucial information.

‘A man has lost his life in violent circumstances and his family have been devastated.  They need and deserve answers and the community can help us provide them. 

‘If you have information, video or images that could help us, please contact us immediately.’

No arrests have been made and a crime scene remains in place on the road, which has an average house price of £420,000.

It is the third murder probe in London in a week, after a woman in her 50s died in hospital on Tuesday from her injuries after being stabbed in Lewisham on June 10.

And last Saturday, a 48-year-old man was stabbed to death at a property in Hornsey, North London. On Monday, Marian Anghel, 42, was charged with his murder.

Anyone with information is asked to call police via 101 or tweet @MetCC quoting reference Cad 414/19Jun, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111