A man was shot dead on the doorstep of his London townhouse last night as a horrifying Christmas Eve slaughter saw the capital’s murder toll tick 146.
The gunman fired several bullets into the victim, believed to be eastern European, as he answered the door of the £1.5million Church Road, Battersea, property at 8.45pm, according to witnesses.
A health worker who lives opposite ran to administer first aid as others, thought to be the victim’s family, swarmed around him.
Police and ambulance were scrambled to the scene in south west London around 15 minutes after panicked residents heard ‘incredibly loud’ bangs.
Julian Stratton, 51, was at his parents’ home just metres from the scene at the time of the incident.
A man was shot dead on the doorstep of his London townhouse last night as a violent Christmas Eve saw the capital’s murder toll tick 146 (crime scene pictured)
The gunman fired several bullets into the victim, believed to be eastern European, as he stepped out of the Church Road, Battersea, property at 8.45pm
He said: ‘We are friends with a man who lives directly opposite the scene. He told us there was a knock at the victim’s door, which was answered.
‘Then there were five gunshots. Four back-to-back, ‘bang, bang, bang, bang,’ then a pause before the final shot.
‘The shots were heard by many neighbours, but being Christmas Eve, most people thought they were fireworks, at first.’
He added: ‘My neighbour’s partner is a health worker. He went to help the man, who was lying on his driveway, before the police and ambulances arrived.
‘It is thought that one round entered the victim’s neck, but where the other four ended up are unknown.
‘We think the man is Eastern European but don’t know exactly where he is from.
‘My parents have lived here for more than a decade. They are surprised this has happened.’
A Met Police officer said: ‘A murder investigation linked to the shooting is now underway after the victim died.’
A car was pictured bein taken away from the crime scene.
Another resident was walking his daughter to the bus stop and missed the shots by a matter of minutes.
Police and ambulance were scrambled to the scene in south west London around 15 minutes after panicked residents heard ‘incredibly loud’ bangs
The elderly man, who does not wish to be named, said: ‘I was dropping my daughter off at the bus stop and walked right passed the house in question.
‘When I returned I saw what had happened. A group of people gathered around the person. I stopped, but didn’t help because everything that could be done, was being done.
‘If I had left five minutes later I could have got caught up in it.’
The man’s other daughter, who was still at his home when the incident happened, said: ‘The bangs were incredibly loud. Then more than 10 police cars arrived about 15 minutes later.’
Omar Seikaly, 35, a caterer who lives several doors down from the victim’s house, said: ‘Someone got their life taken on Christmas Eve.
‘I was coming back from my kitchen at about 8.15 and was in the shower getting ready for a Christmas meal when it happened.
‘I didn’t hear anything, because of the shower I suppose. As soon as I walked out I knew there was something wrong because of all the flashing lights from police cars and ambulances.
‘This is a pretty hot area. There was a stabbing on a street nearby not long ago. But shooting is quite new.’
As much of the world celebrates Christmas and looks ahead to 2020, Londoners will reflect on a bloodbath year of horrific stabbings and gun violence.
London Ambulance Service and Scotland Yard have been contacted for comment.
The terraced townhouse the victim was shot in is valued at around £1.5 million on the property website Zoopla.