Innocent woman killed in drug gang gun battle

The 26-year-old victim is thought to have been hit by a stray bullet after two drug dealers exchanged shots across the bonnet of a car in a residential street in south London at about 6.20pm last night.

One witness told the Evening Standard that the two gunmen were several yards apart as they fired about five shots in total at each other, but neither of them are thought to have been hit. The victim, whose relatives have not yet been informed, was found collapsed and bleeding on the stairwell of a block of flats. She had a gunshot wound to the head. Detectives say the woman, who is white, has no criminal history and did not appear to be linked to gangs.

The 19-year-old witness, who was too scared to give her name, said she believed the men - both only 17 or 18 - had agreed to meet over an unpaid debt at a park behind Stunell House in John Williams Close, New Cross.

The witness said: "One was leaning into a burgundy VW Polo talking to some people. Suddenly the other guy came down the stairs with a bandanna covering his face but you could see his eyes change in a split second like he thought he was being set up.

"He pulled out a 9mm handgun from his trousers and fired two or three shots at the car. The other guy then got out a similar gun from his pants and shot back using the bonnet for cover.

"There were about five shots in total. There was no shouting, nothing, just the shots. This woman came from nowhere. The two guys just completely missed each other. I'm pretty sure it was over drug money."

Witnesses said at least one suspect is believed to be from the local Ghetto Boys gang, fierce rivals of the nearby Peckham Boys. The woman was found on stairs behind Stunell House and paramedics attended the scene but she died at King's College Hospital just over an hour later.

Resident Isabella Zylowski, 25, said she saw two men running from the scene, one towards an old people's home and the other towards a nearby park.

The street was cordoned off last night and at least four SO19 armed response units were dispatched to the scene. A vehicle has been seized although no weapons have been recovered.

So far this year 20 teenagers have been murdered in London, many the victim of gang violence .

Witnesses should call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.