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| London shootings: 16-year-old boy shot in face in case of 'mistaken identity' | London shootings: 16-year-old boy shot in face in case of 'mistaken identity' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A 16-year-old boy killed in London was a “good lad” who was shot in the face in a case of “mistaken identity”, a family friend has said. | A 16-year-old boy killed in London was a “good lad” who was shot in the face in a case of “mistaken identity”, a family friend has said. |
| Amaan Shakoor became the youngest murder victim in London so far this year after suffering a bullet wound outside Walthamstow Leisure Centre at around 10pm on Monday. He died of his injuries on Tuesday at around 5.45pm with his family at his bedside. | Amaan Shakoor became the youngest murder victim in London so far this year after suffering a bullet wound outside Walthamstow Leisure Centre at around 10pm on Monday. He died of his injuries on Tuesday at around 5.45pm with his family at his bedside. |
| He was fatally injured on the same night as 17-year-old girl Tanesha Melbourne, who was killed three miles away in a drive-by shooting in Tottenham. They were both apparent casualties of gang violence. | He was fatally injured on the same night as 17-year-old girl Tanesha Melbourne, who was killed three miles away in a drive-by shooting in Tottenham. They were both apparent casualties of gang violence. |
| Speaking close to the scene of the shooting at Walthamstow Leisure Centre, a man who gave his name only as Osman, 32, said of Amaan: “He was just a good lad. He wasn’t involved in gangs or drugs or anything like that. | |
| “It was a case of mistaken identity. He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. | “It was a case of mistaken identity. He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. |
| “There are gang wars going on and this young lad has just unfortunately got caught up in it. | “There are gang wars going on and this young lad has just unfortunately got caught up in it. |
| “He was in his last year at school studying for his GCSEs. He had his whole future ahead of him.” | “He was in his last year at school studying for his GCSEs. He had his whole future ahead of him.” |
| Osman described Amaan as a normal teenager who liked football, spending time with friends and eating in restaurants. | |
| Amaan’s father, Mohammed Shakoor, told The Evening Standard he was “a wonderful son” and the family was devastated by his death. | |
| Another family member told the daily he was “a lovely boy” who “went out to see friends and never came back”. | |
| Shirley Chase, 78, who lives a few doors away from the Shakoor family in Walthamstow, described the 16-year-old as “very pleasant”. | Shirley Chase, 78, who lives a few doors away from the Shakoor family in Walthamstow, described the 16-year-old as “very pleasant”. |
| He said: “I have been to see the family. They are very, very sad. | He said: “I have been to see the family. They are very, very sad. |
| “He is only 16. He was very polite. I would see him walking up and down the street. I have been seeing him since he was a kid. | |
| “It is just such a waste of life. I have been here since 1969 and the violence has got worse. | “It is just such a waste of life. I have been here since 1969 and the violence has got worse. |
| “If they cut all the funds, what do you expect? They have cut all of it to all services.” | “If they cut all the funds, what do you expect? They have cut all of it to all services.” |
| Amaan was the 49th person to be murdered in London this year, fuelling concern about rising violence among adolescents. | |
| Youth workers yesterday warned austerity was contributing to a spate of youth murders on the streets of London, as poverty-stricken households and “decimated” youth services push young people into a cycle of violence. | Youth workers yesterday warned austerity was contributing to a spate of youth murders on the streets of London, as poverty-stricken households and “decimated” youth services push young people into a cycle of violence. |
| The practitioners said financial pressures on parents to work long hours and cuts to vital youth support programmes left teenagers in a “vulnerable place” that led some to turn to a life of crime. | The practitioners said financial pressures on parents to work long hours and cuts to vital youth support programmes left teenagers in a “vulnerable place” that led some to turn to a life of crime. |
| Press Association contributed to this report | Press Association contributed to this report |