A fifth murder investigation has been launched in London in four days after a man was shot dead in Ilford.
The shooting occurred at about 10pm last night in Balfour Road where police and ambulance medics found a 30-year-old man with gunshot injuries to his head.
Witnesses described how they heard two shots and then a 4x4 speeding away from the scene. A grey hatchback, that was also believed to have been involved in the crime, was behind a police cordon today.
A 62-year-old witness said: “I heard two shots, bang, bang, then I saw a 4x4 speeding away from the scene. It looked like a Range Rover. They had ambushed the man by the looks of it.” Another neighbour said: “We heard a loud bang. It could only have been a gunshot. The police were here in force very quickly.”
It came as a murder investigation continued into the stabbing of a 19-year-old during a fight between young men in Fernhead Road, Maida Vale, at about 10pm on Saturday night.
The victim was pronounced dead despite attempts by medics to save him, while a 20-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder. He remained in custody.
Meanwhile, 19-year-old Imran Boujdellai, of Walworth, has been charged with the murder of 15-year-old Joseph Marafini from Wandsworth in a fight outside a supermarket there shortly before 5pm on Thursday.
A harrowing image showed a young girl, aged about two, inside the supermarket watching paramedics desperately trying to save a victim.
A 71-year-old man, Keith Bettison, of Raynard Close, Chessington, was appearing before Wimbledon magistrates today charged with the murder of his wife Ildiko Bettison, 48. She was found at their home shortly after 1am on Saturday.
A murder investigation was also continuing following the death of a 39-year-old woman in Eltham. Her body was found at a home in Fenwick Road on Friday morning.
A 41-year-old man was arrested at the property on suspicion of murder but is currently in hospital prior to being taken into custody. Police said he and the victim were known to each other.
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or tweet @MetCC quoting reference 8011/01Nov. Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.