Gun gang kill boy of 15 'in his bed'

A 15-year-old boy has been shot dead at home in a gangland-style killing.

Two men burst into the teenager's bedroom during the early hours of today. Detectives believe the Peckham house was targeted by the gunmen, though it is unclear if the boy was the intended victim.

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Police described the teenager as a "lovely, church-going boy" who was not associated with criminality or gangs. The 15-year-old, who has not been named, was in bed at the time of the attack.

Two other family members, one believed to be his sister, heard gunshots at around 1am and saw two young men fleeing.

They went to the boy's room and discovered his body. He was taken to King's College hospital but died soon after arrival.

Neither of the teenager's parents were at home. The killing is being investigated by officers from Operation Trident, the squad that deals with "black-on-black" gun crime. Detectives are examining the backgrounds and associations of the teenager's family.

Detective Superintendent Gary Richardson, who is overseeing the investigation, said: "This is a terrible crime, people should expect to be safe in their home. The message to the community is that this was a targeted house, this was not a burglary or a robbery which went wrong. Anyone with information should ring our appeal number urgently."

The victim, who lived with his parents and two older siblings, was described as a " gentle" boy. Friends of the family, who came over from Nigeria 30 years ago, claimed the boy's father was attacked in his home 24 hours before his son was shot dead.

A woman, who preferred to remain anonymous, said: "The father is lying in hospital after somebody broke into his home and beat him round the head."

She added that the boy had an older brother known as "Soldier" among neighbours. She feared the younger boy and his father had been victims in a revenge attack. She said: "The older brother used to be in the Army. He always seems to be getting in trouble and I think his dad and his younger brother have got caught up in it this time."

One woman said: "He's their baby. He came to church with them last Sunday and is such a good and gentle boy. I can't believe anyone would want to do this to him. They are a good family and good Christians who we see in church every week."

Nicola Taylor, 27, a housewife who lives doors away from the family, said: "They have lived here for over 10 years and as far as we all know they are a nice family. We see the younger boy going to and from school sometimes. He's not one of those kids who hangs around on the streets."

The street where the boy lived was sealed by police today as forensic experts search for clues. The area of Peckham was made notorious in 2000 by the stabbing of 10-year-old Damilola Taylor.

The shooting comes amid police concern over young people involved in gun crime. James Smarrt-Ford, 16, was shot dead at the weekend in Streatham. In a separate incident on Friday a gunman opened fire at a group of teenagers at a McDonald's in Clapham, though no one was hurt. Last year two 17-year-olds were shot and injured as they queued in McDonald's in Brixton.

• Anyone with information about the Peckham shooting should ring 0208 733 4704 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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