Nurse killed in gangsters' crossfire yards from home

The 26-year-old Polish woman was hit in the head by a stray bullet as two men exchanged shots across a car bonnet.

She had been walking down steps near her home in New Cross and was found on the stairwell. Police and paramedics fought to save her but she died in hospital an hour later.

Today colleagues at Manley Court Nursing Centre, close to her home, were said to be in shock.

One witness told how the gunmen were only yards apart when they opened fire yesterday evening. The 19-year-old, who was too scared to give her name, said the men, aged about 17 or 18, had met over an unpaid debt at a park behind Stunell House in John Williams Close.

She said: "One was leaning into a burgundy VW Polo talking to some people. Suddenly the other guy came down the stairs with a bandana 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 got out a similar gun and shot back using the bonnet for cover. There were about five shots.

"I don't know where this woman came from, she just came from nowhere. The two guys just completely missed each other and hit an innocent bystander."

Another witness said: "I heard what sounded like Chinese fireworks and a load of bangs. I saw a man trying to help a woman on the floor. She was in a hooded top and there was blood everywhere.

"When the police arrived they were trying to revive her. When I went out at first I saw three or four men in a car and another running up steps." The woman died at King's College Hospital in Denmark Hill shortly after 7.30pm.

Today a tarpaulin covered the spot where she was hit and the area was cordoned off. Detectives say they know the name of the woman, who had been in Britain for three years, but were trying to trace her family. They said she had no links to gangs. One source said: "She was in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Witnesses said at least one suspect was believed to be from the local Ghetto Boys gang. One said: "I'm pretty sure it was over drug money."

Police have arrested one woman and three men. They are appealing for witnesses to come forward by ringing Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.