Boy, 15, is fighting for life after being shot in south London

A mother ran into the street from her home after her 15-year-old was shot in the chest in a suspected drive-by attack in south London last night.

Police were called to reports of the shooting in West Norwood, shortly after 10pm.

The 15-year-old boy had fled the scene when they arrived but was later found injured and taken to hospital. 

Shocked neighbours heard the chilling screams of a mother after the teenager was gunned down in a drive-by shooting. The victim remains in a ‘critical’ condition.

A neighbour said she heard his mother screaming for an ambulance, while other said they heard a car pull up before the shots were fired then sped away.

A neighbour was in a friend’s house across the road when she heard the shots.

She said: ‘We heard three shots and thought it was fireworks at first. Then I heard his mum screaming for an ambulance.’

She added: ‘He’s a good lad, my kids get on with him. They help fix his pushbike from time to time. I’ve never heard of him in any trouble.’

She said she wants to move away from the area because of the shooting, adding: ‘It’s terrible – I’ve been here 25 years and I want to leave. I’ve got my children to worry about.’ 

Neighbours say four gunshots rang out as his mother screamed ‘Help me! Help me! They’re going to kill my son!’

Witnesses saw a car slow down before its occupants allegedly blasted the teen from inside as he apparently returned home.

Resident Amber Fox, 24, has two daughters aged two and four.

She said: ‘We were in the house and I heard four gunshots. Then a woman started screaming ‘help me, help me, my son’s been shot.’

‘Lots of neighbours went outside and ambulances arrived in less than five minutes.’

She added: ‘I could see him running into the block and a car disappearing.

‘I think he was shot by someone from the car and then he ran into his house for safety.

‘It looked like he was on his way home and they came in behind him and tried to shoot him four times.

‘He’s a young lad, fairly small and skinny. I’ve never seen him in any trouble. I don’t know him or his mum but I’ve seen them around and we always say hello. It’s just unbelievable.’

Police later issued a statement saying the initial assessment at the hospital was that his injuries were potentially life-threatening

Another resident, Mercedes Hunt, 25, said she heard screaming. She said: ‘I heard the mum shout ‘They’re going to kill my son!’

Official figures show the number of shootings in London rose by 22 per cent over the last 12 months.

Lambeth, where the boy was shot on Tuesday night, has the highest number of shootings of any borough in the capital.  

The Lambeth Metropolitan Police Central South Command said: ‘We were called at 22.13 to a 15-year-old boy shot in Unity Close, SE19.

‘He walked off after the shooting, but officers located him and gave first aid prior to an ambulance taking him to hospital.

‘He is awaiting full assessment, but his injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.’ 

This morning, half a dozen police officers were seen entering a cordon set up as forensic teams arrived to comb the scene.

The injured boy’s aunt – who has not been named – passed the police cordon and said she was ‘hopeful’ he will pull through. 

An investigation has been launched into the incident – Trident officers will work alongside Lambeth police. No arrests have been made.

A crime scene was put in place in order for police to recover evidence.

Any witnesses or anyone with information is asked to call police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.