Boy, 16, dies after being shot in south London
Police were called at 3.21pm to reports of a shooting in Paradise Road, Stockwell.
A 16-year-old boy has died after being shot in south London on Tuesday afternoon, the Metropolitan Police said.
Police were called at 3.21pm to reports of a shooting in Paradise Road, Stockwell.
The boy was pronounced dead at the scene despite the efforts of paramedics from London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance.
A police statement said officers are working to identify the teenager and contact his next of kin.
No arrests have been made in connection with the shooting, which took place not far from Stockwell Tube station.
Superintendent Gabriel Cameron, who is leading the local policing response, 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.”
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, Labour MP for Vauxhall and Camberwell Green.
She also said she was “very sad” to hear of the fatal shooting.
According to figures from mid-December, in the past three years around one in 10 homicides in London has been a fatal shooting – 11 out of 103 in 2024, eight out of 104 in 2023 and 10 out of 104 in 2022.
During the same period the number of teenagers who have lost their lives to violence has fluctuated.
There were 11 teenage homicide victims in 2024, 21 in 2023 and 14 in 2022, down from 30 in 2021 out of a total 134 recorded homicides.
While fatal shootings are far less common than stabbings, there has recently been a national amnesty over a particular type of blank-firing gun that is converted by organised criminals to fire live rounds.
More than 1,000 Turkish-manufactured top-venting blank-firing guns were handed in during February in England and Wales.
Law enforcement officials found the weapons could be converted to fire live ammunition in around 20 minutes.
Anyone who was a witness or has information is asked to call police on 101 with the reference 4116/4MAR.
People can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 to remain anonymous.
