First picture of boy, 16, shot dead by hooded assassin who ‘chased him down’

This is the first picture of a 16-year-old football fan who was gunned down by a hooded assassin in Stockwell last night.

Family friends today said the teenager, named locally as Lathaniel, was a Manchester United fan shot by an attacker in a tracksuit who witnesses thought was dressed as a delivery driver.

Neighbours said one of the attackers sprinted from the crime scene with an accomplice, and police were last night and today searching the nearby Stockwell Tube station.

A family member told Metro: ‘He was lovely. He had one sister, loved Manchester United.

‘He was such a nice boy we are devastated.’

A cousin who came to lay flowers said: ‘He was super smart, could have easily gone to Uni. He was so bright and loved his football.

‘It’s such a terrible thing. My mum has spoken to his mum who is devastated. She’s in shock.’

A 44-year-old mother-of-two, told Metro she heard two bangs ‘like fireworks going off’ and looked out of her window before Lathaniel died.

She said: ‘There were two bangs in rapid succession. I thought it was fireworks but I looked out and saw three boys.

‘It looked like two were chasing another who dropped to the ground as I was watching.

‘A boy in a white or grey hoodie has his hand in his pocket, but I could see a gun shape in the pocket.

‘He and the other lad he was with then sprinted off.’

She described how seconds later, a white hatchback luxury car, either a Mercedes or BMW, pulled up.

She added: ‘A young man got out and started getting agitated when he saw the boy on the ground. I think he was his friend because he looked very upset.

‘He was waving his arms around and seemed to be saying ‘oh my god’ over and again.

‘He then looked scared and drove off. He drove back a little but after but then headed off again.

‘The police arrived within minutes, they were everywhere.’

Another witness told Metro: ‘I heard shots, I was out on my balcony. There was a guy dressed like a delivery rider on a moped.

‘He took off fast after the bangs. I don’t know if he was connected to it but he was there at the scene right at the time of the shooting.’

A friend of the family told Metro Lathaniel was not attending school and could not leave his postcode because of ‘beef’.

They said: ‘He was not in school. He could not leave the area because of problems he had with people outside.

Another mother, who has a 14-year-old son, told Metro: ‘I’m scared for my son.

‘Growing up around here is a nightmare, the gangs prowl around.

‘Life has changed for him since we moved here. I couldn’t sleep last night and I’m terrified when my son is out.’

It is understood that the victim was shot in the chest and face.

A local primary school worker told Metro she was in the playground with children when two shots rang out.

She said: ‘We were scared. The boy we have found out has relatives at the school, it’s a tragedy. We are having a meeting about it this morning. He is from a lovely family.’

A woman who knows the family of the victim told Metro that the boy who was gunned down in a drug-related attack.

She said: ‘He was a sweet lad. There’s a lot of violence around here. Post code retaliation stuff it’s terrible.’

Another local said: ‘He lived around here. He was well known. A nice guy but got in with the wrong crowd.’

One woman saw the victim being chased around Paradise Road from Clapham Road before two blasts rang out.

She told Metro: ‘There was shouting and my dog started barking. I looked out and there were boys chasing someone.

‘Then two blasts. I just couldn’t believe someone could fire in broad daylight like that. We are sick to our stomachs that this has happened.’

Superintendent Gabriel Cameron said: ‘This is an enormously shocking incident which I imagine will cause huge distress to the local community.

‘Our thoughts are with the young boy’s family at this devastating time.

‘Local officers are on the scene gathering CCTV and speaking to witnesses to piece together what has happened. They will be supported by specialist homicide investigators shortly.

‘Please rest assured we will work around the clock to identify and find those responsible.’

No arrests have been made at this early stage of the investigation.

The force said a crime scene and cordons remain in place while emergency services carry out inquiries.

The death was described as a ‘life wasted’ by Florence Eshalomi, the MP Vauxhall & Camberwell Green.

She also said she was ‘very sad’ to hear of the fatal shooting.

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