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A promising footballer killed in a drive-by shooting was randomly targeted because of an escalating “postcode war”, it was claimed today.
Rio McFarlane, 18, was shot as he visited a makeshift shrine to a friend — thought to be a member of a south London gang — who had been killed hours earlier in a motor-cycle crash.
George Ogaba, 20, died after his bike was hit by a car in Peckham after apparently being involved in a shooting an hour earlier near his home. Scotland Yard said no one was injured in the shooting on the Lettsom Estate, but shots were heard and and shell casings found.
As Mr McFarlane made his way from the crash scene, which was less than a mile from his Camberwell home, to go to his older brother Anthony's house, he was shot by attackers who are believed to have pulled up in a car. Detectives are “keeping an open mind” but are investigating possible links between the three events. Police sources said Mr Ogaba was “very well known” to officers, and had frequently been in trouble with police.
It is believed he was a member of the gang Peckham Young Gunz. In July he was convicted of drugs offences after being found with cannabis and heroin — and in June last year was accused of helping to hide a Mac-10 machinegun used in the execution of Curtis Smith. He was cleared of a charge of perverting the course of justice.
Family and friends of Mr McFarlane today insisted he had not been involved in gangs. A close friend, who asked not to be named, said: “Rio and George were not very good friends, but he was someone Rio knew. George was a very unsavoury character, but if you grow up in Peckham you know people on both sides. It doesn't mean you can't still walk the straight and narrow.
“It's being said George was rammed off the road and that the people at the shrine were targeted as well.”
Football agent and former West Ham player Anthony McFarlane, 31, who said he chose not to move out of Peckham in order to protect his younger brother, said: “Rio was never in trouble with the police. He was squeaky clean.”
Local resident Lucy Cope, who set up Mothers Against Guns after her son Damian was shot dead in 2002, said: “There is a real concern this is going to escalate. There are gangs from Brixton who have a rivalry with the ones here, but people can't be judge, jury and executioner. Something has to be done.”
Reader views (8)
Nothing ever worked properly after we got the post codes can't we stop uing them.???
- Davey_buoy, Chertsey, 12/09/2010 17:45
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What a lovely young lad, come from a decent stable family. His head screwed on, focused, bright. It could of been anyone white or black, chinese or indian. Thats how unassociated this young lad was to all those who did this. He was a wonderful example of a young man, respectable and talented. My heart goes out to his family at this time. Rest in peace.. little Rio
- Siontai, Tunbridge Wells, 10/09/2010 21:55
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'Postcode War'. It's idiocy is only surpassed by its patheticness.
- Squiz, Islington, 10/09/2010 21:18
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Rio was such a lovely boy growing up from a loving respectable family. A true asset. A decent head strong 18 year old, passionate about life. Imagine he was down the road in the wrong area and meet his fate as he tried to get home. I'm so sorry my God be with his family at this time. He was so good.
- Siontai, Tunbridge Wells, 10/09/2010 20:21
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I liveon Pearse Street and the murder was actually on Dragon Road which is at the corner. But what worries me now is that some of the friends of both people who were killed on Monday are now showing up paying their respects, in hoodies etc.. This is quite worrying if this is gang related. This is a quiet area, residential!
These people in gangs is that all they can think about, killing people living in other postcode area? How very sad! They should put their energy in producing something more positive. I guess they don't work or study!
- letty, london, 10/09/2010 19:02
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Some ethnic people's problems are really quite worrying. What are they on most of the time? Capital punishment might solve some of these homicidal maniacs stupidity.
- Fred, London, 10/09/2010 13:31
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Young black thugs love their knives and guns. Until that mentality is changed this madness will continue...
- David, London, UK, 10/09/2010 12:15
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Where I used to live I said to a neighbour why dont we kill a few over in the IG postcode, he said what!, it sounds silly when English people say it, how daft are these people?
- Peter Woods, Torre Chainca, 10/09/2010 10:48
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