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Devastated mother reveals how son was shot dead in row over cheap gold chain
Last updated at 09:07am on 06.08.07The mother of a teenager shot dead yards from his home told today how he was killed because of an argument over a cheap gold chain.
Youth worker Nathan Foster, 18, was killed in a residential street in Brixton as he attempted to broker the peace after the jewellery was snatched as a prank.
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Nathan Foster, pictured with his son Raheem, was shot over a cheap gold chain
The talented equestrian's mother, Vanetta Bell, appealed for the "evil killer" of her "polite and hard-working" son to be caught.
Mrs Bell, 52, a nursery assistant, said: "I can't cry any more tears than I have. It's such a horrible thing to have to bury your own child.
"Nathan was a gentle, sweet boy - never in any trouble, never involved with a gang or any bad people. He was dedicated to working with children and he loved horseriding.
"I don't know how anyone could do this over a stupid gold chain. This man must be caught. If he can shoot someone because of a chain then he will do it again."
The father-of-one was shot by a man on a moped in Marcus Garvey Way on Friday night during an argument between a group of 10 youths.
The gunman is believed to have returned with a weapon after his chain was taken from him.
"Nathan tried to text his sister after he was shot, but she couldn't get there in time," said Mrs Bell.
He had celebrated his son Raheem's first birthday days earlier. Relatives are comforting partner Rochelle.
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Nathan was an accomplished horseman and wanted to help inner-city children learn to ride
Mr Foster worked on a Lambeth council project to help local young people with their homework.
Mrs Bell, who has four other children, said Mr Foster had also started working at Ebony Horse Riding Club, Coldharbour Lane, which teaches inner-city children to ride. He began riding there at the age of eight and became an accomplished horseman, winning a string of prizes.
Club founder Ros Spearing said: "Out of 200 kids learning to ride from Brixton no one has ever come near to his standard. He could have gone on to equestrian college because he was that good at riding.
"He made a decision that he was more interested in working with young people."
Mr Foster is the 17th teenager killed in gun or knife crime in London this year. His death comes just over a week after Abukar Mahamed, 16, was shot in Stockwell.
Reader views (7)
I knew him for long and he was one of the nicest people I've meet so far, and I know his son who is the cutest, sweetest baby ever and it's just really heartbreaking that he will never know his dad! R.I.P Nathan ..you really didn't deserve to die like that. I m just so glad that he got justice!
- R.I.P Nathan, brixton, england, 15/05/2008 19:34
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I cannot believe there are such sick people out there who do these things over stupid little things to young people who have a family! It makes me sick to think that these people are still on the streets and that no teenager is safe to be out in London anymore. My heart goes out to all the family and friends of Nathan Foster.
- Lucy, Croydon, 08/08/2007 21:48
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It saddens any and all parents to see this breakdown within the young folk. It is as if they don't know how important they are to us. They don't see themselves as the keepers of tomorrow. The community can't wait for the police to intervene as that usually happens when it is too late.
We need to prevent these happenings and we, as a society, must work as a parental unit as these are all of our children. It is our job to instill values and pride showing kids that they can dream and that their dreams can come true. The ugly alternative is that they're shunned by society and live in fear of their peers, perpetuating this destructive and expanding situation.
We could blame the media and say that tv, music, computer games are to blame but when one of our children takes the life of another it is a direct reason for concern on the part of the whole of society and an undeniable indicator that complacency is taking a very firm grip on parents and effectively resulting in them shirking their God-given responsibility. This epidemic is attacking every part of the UK and every race - the only thing that is consistent is that they are kids.
- Bernard Atwell, Brixton London, 08/08/2007 20:21
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I had heard about the shooting, but did not know who the victim was until I saw a picture of Nathan in the newspaper. I was so shocked when I recognised him. I send all my condolesences to he's family. May he rest in peace. I just cannot believe that he has been shot down. Although I did not know Nathan personally, I remember seeing im alot near were he lived, so therefore I feel he's loss. I hope that his killer is caught.
- Maureen Smith, London, 07/08/2007 16:19
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I didn't know Nathan personally but he is my best friend's cousin and her family are completely and understandably devastated. From what I've read he sounds like an amazing person and I agree with James in saying this world will be a much sadder place without him in the world. It was cruel and unfair for such a genuine man to be killed like that. He had a family and a life and was shot for trying to do the right thing. This stupidness has to stop it's getting completely out of hand.
- Milly, Croydon, 06/08/2007 20:33
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This is just getting plain ridiculous and the police are not following the guidelines to lock people up found with knives and people found with guns get lenient sentences as there's not enough room in our prisons. Build more prisons - lock the gangsters up and give us back some faith that the streets are not a warzone!
- Jules, London, 06/08/2007 17:24
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Yet another senseless killing, a young man's life taken away stolen from all of us! Families and friends lives, destroyed; A talented and caring person never to return to this earth. This place will be a much sadder place without Nathan.
When will we learn, how many more people will be killed before this stops, who has the answers, what do we do now?
- James Begley, London, England, 06/08/2007 07:46
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