Teenage Girls AND Baby Targeted in West London Triple Shooting

Three teenage girls last night became victims of a drive-by shooting in Queen’s Park, West London. It has emerged today that one of the girls; an 18-year-old named locally as Jessica Crichlow, had been holding her eleven-month-old son at the time of the attack.

The shootings – said locally to have been a direct by-product of ongoing estate rivalries – took place at approximately 1915 hours yesterday evening on John Fearon Walk, Mozart Estate, Queen’s Park.

The shot victims – aged 17, 18 and 19, and understood to be friends – were immediately rushed to hospital where they received treatment for non-life threatening injuries. The baby escaped unhurt, police revealed earlier today.

Today at a press conference concerning the attempted murder, Detective Mick Foote said that he did not believe that the three females were the attempted targets. According to the detective, the group of girls had been interacting with a larger group of boys on John Fearon Walk, when an apparently lonesome entered and fired a single bullet at the crowd.

"What we do know is that the guys in the large group were aware that something was going to happen, because they decided to run off just before the shot was fired".

Foote elaborated that the gunman, then joined three others on bikes, one of whom was holding a holdall, and the rival gang made an escape in the direction of Marylebone Road. All four men are said to have been wearing dark clothing.

Detectives believe that the teenagers were all struck by the same single bullet during the suspected drive-by shooting. The 17-year-old has since been discharged early this morning, while the other two remain hospitalised in a stable condition.

Local residents last night expressed their stunned reactions to the horrific events.

“I was shocked when someone told me it was her”, a resident referred to one of the victims. “I went over to her’s and her mum was crying and said she’s stable; she was shot in the chest, and her friend in the back of the head”, the neighbour continued.

“The girl that I know has nothing to do with the gangs; she just happens to live on the estate. You know, she has good parents, is hardworking; she worked locally, went to college; I’ve never even seen her in the streets to be honest”.

The neighbour – who declined to reveal his name – shed light on the local gang tensions which culminated in the night’s tragic events.

“From what I know, it’s been going on for a while; rival gangs from the Mozart estate and South Kilburn estate just a couple of hundred yards down the road, and what they do is just tit-for-tat basically.

“It’s been going on for a few years now. The guys from here will probably do the same… They do YouTube videos taunting each other, and Facebook and Twitter, even. Sometimes you know something’s going to happen ‘cause there’s big groups during the day, and word’s going round”.

Commenting on notorious gang tensions in the area, the residents made a distinction between gang and estate ‘warfare’ attributing the night’s ordeal to the latter.

“I think it’s just they’ll come to the estate, they’ll recognise faces, certain demographics that fit the bill and that’s it; they’ll get shot unfortunately… It’s rival estates rather than gangs”, he insists before revealing senseless episodes of similar shootouts that had preceded last night.

“This is like the third time I know… They’ll take a couple of shots and run off. It’s almost like a waterfight!” he whisks before concluding:

“Young men with nothing to do; just trying to give themselves something to feel big about”.

The resident’s notion is in line with that of Labour MP Karen Buck who visited the scene late last night, claiming that these incidents would only escalate with governments cuts to young people’s services. The local MP for Westminster North, home to the Mozart Estate, was echoed by long-standing Westminster resident Aiden who originally came to the ward a quarter-of-a-century ago. Whilst insisting that the area had improved in his time in the area, he noted:

“There’s not much to say really, but if we get the kids off the street; keep them occupied. Boredom can lead to trouble so get the youngsters off the streets”, the Queen’s Park resident said.

Asking him what could have galvanised the local tensions, Aiden asserted:

“Maybe something trivial I’m sure probably started it up. Something simple, then it’s just escalated hasn’t it? The youngsters don’t realise it takes a split second to pull a trigger and somebody can die as a result of it… Especially the fact that you’ve got three kids shot today”.

Mohammad – a resident on the Mozart estate where the shootings took place – meanwhile took a different view.

“We don’t have the right to tell our children to stay home. The freedom the government give young people they use to their full advantage”, he said, before moving to the lenient punishments young people faced when caught.

“They know it’s one night down the station, then the next they’re free”.

The case of attempted murder continues to be investigated by the Operation Trident wing of the Metropolitan Police, who deal with gun crime in the black community. No arrests have been made thus far.

Today, at the press conference, Detective Foote said confidently:

“There are I’m sure, other witnesses. It was seven o’clock in the evening. There were people walking around at the time”.

Potential witnesses or anyone with information relating to the shooting, are urged to call the Police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Olympians - Past, Present & Future - get set for 2012 at Lloyds' Westfield Launch

Olympic champion Collin Jackson was amongst the list of big names yesterday at the launch of Westfield, Stratford City.

Tens of thousands flooded the doors at 8am, as the doors to the East London complex were opened. Many are said to have queued for periods as extensive as twenty hours to take advantage of opening day offers in some 300 stores.

The shopping centre which looks to replicate the success of its sister mall in White City was described by the mayor as “one of the most important legacies of the 2012 Olympics”.

Meanwhile, the Olympics looked to have come early for ecstatic shoppers got the chance to have their photo taken with the Olympic torch, in the newly-opened Lloyds TSB. Lloyd’s TSB is an official partner of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games.

At midday, Collin Jackson opened the mall’s branch bank to excited shoppers that immediately formed queues for photos with the former Olympian.

At the launch, Jackson, a silver Olympic medallist himself, cemented his support for the high street bank’s Local Heroes scheme. The scheme launched in 2008, sees Lloyds TSB provide financial support to hundreds of emerging athletes across the UK, to help cover essential costs like training and necessary sports equipment.

The athlete-turned-presenter told me:

“It’s really important for us to get involved with the community and the Olympics experience, and really get into the heart of the community. Lloyds TSB are lucky enough that they are in it…So it’s a good initiative for us to get involved and I think the more information we can drum up; the more enthusiasm we can drum about the Olympic games is gonna be better for everyone!”

Some of the promising talents were on hand at the grand opening to talk about how the scheme had benefited them:

“I’ve been on the scheme since 2008 when it started" Local Hero Twinelle Hopeson imparted. "They sponsor us by giving us a grant each year of £1000 which goes towards physiotherapy, travelling costs and things like that. Also, we get to do coverage things, for example I’ve been to the Olympic stadium; been filmed for the BBC, and it’s all through Lloyd’s TSB”, the 100m sprinter from Croydon revealed.

Tyler Saunders, a wheelchair basketball athlete from Edgware echoed similar contentment:

“As a young person doing a sport there’s a lot of costs involved and for Lloyds TSB to give you a grant towards it, it makes life that bit easier. You can just focus on the sport instead of trying to raise money in order to do the sport”

He continued: “It’s a really good initiative. Lloyds are one of the main sponsors of the Olympics; Instead of just saying ‘yeah, we’re a partner’; they’re actually putting money into emerging athletes, so come 2016 there’s actually going to be a pool of young British athletes coming through due to Lloyds TSB”.

Whilst they acknowledge the 2012 games are too imminent to expect glory, both young heroes fervently anticipate medals at Rio 2016.

On Saturday, Tyler and Twinelle will return to Lloyd’s TSB Westfield with other fellow athletes, for an event further publicising the Olympics and Local Heroes Scheme.

Thousands Mourn Tottenham Police Shooting Victim Mark Duggan

More than 1000 people descended on the streets of Wood Green yesterday (Friday) to pay their final respects to Mark Duggan.

The funeral service for Duggan - who's shooting dead by police sparked last month's civil unrest - took place at the New Testament Church Of God, Wood Green, just two miles from where his life was taken on August 4.

In an emotionally-fuelled service, relatives and close friends paid tribute as they described Duggan as a “highly-spirited, humorous, caring and loving” individual who took an immense pride in his family.

A selection of Biblical readings and musical tributes came from Mark Duggan’s immediate and extended family network. Too distraught to speak, Semone Wilson – Duggan’s partner of 14 years - conveyed her own heartfelt memories of her first ‘true love’ in a tribute read out by her sister.

In an equally touching obituary, cousin Donna Martin affectionately recalled how Duggan boasted a smile “that used to take over the whole of his face!” The cousin also elaborated on how Duggan had come to be a respected role model for younger people in the community talking to them about ‘life’. ”He was seen as a peacemaker by many, and saw it as his role to prevent unnecessary conflict”, Ms Martin recollected. She concluded with speaking about Duggan’s final days up until the tragic circumstances which led to her cousin’s untimely demise.

Speaking to a family friend and Tottenham resident after the service, Kareen Vere vented her anger at the police, and their failures surrounding Duggan’s death in their custody.

“It grieves me that someone so young, a father to four children; his life is just ended just like that… Nobody is supposed to die at the hands of police for no reason. And the lying, and trying to cover their tracks and discredit the family is just not on”.

Of the memorial, Ms Vere said; “There was a lot of love and respect today. I hope we don’t just go home and tomorrow forget about it. I hope we get active in the community, and follow the campaigns that have started in order to get justice for the family… I’m not gonna wait till it’s my son to help”.

Kareen Vere was echoed by Douglas Williams of local campaign group ‘Find Your Voice’ The group which sets about to empower the community , has since Duggan’s death, campaigned for justice for the 29-year-old.

“Where we go from here is that as a community we must get justice”, Williams asserted. “We have to move by any means necessary to bring justice to Mark… That means we have to begin with our MPs; councillors; they all have to be held accountable. There will come a time when we have a day of action when we say ‘ On This particular day; Nobody will work on This particular thing’. Then, they can start to take to take us seriously”.

With reference to the circumstances of Duggan’s death, Williams noted;

“The reason why people can do things to you is because they know they can get away with it… As a community we just can’t take this kind of thing lying down”, Williams vehemently continued, before highlighting the fact yet another two men had died in police custody since Duggan on August 4^th.

Marcia Rigg, - whose brother Sean Rigg died in Brixton police custody in August 2008 explained why it was so important she attend Mark Duggan’s funeral.

“I’m here for Mark Duggan, to support the families of victims of deaths in police custody. When people disperse after the funerals it’s the families left”, Ms Rigg opened up, before turning her attention to the police.

“How can they sleep at night? How can they close their eyes? It’s blatant murder and they feel they’re allowed to get away with it because they’re wearing the Queen’s uniform. We have to put a stop to that.”, Ms Rigg vowed.

“Since 1969 there has been over 400 deaths [in police custody] and no officer has ever been made accountable for any of these. We need to bring this to the media!

“The system too needs to be put to account… The government allows the police to get away with murder, and if the government was to highlight the situation and show the police they cannot do this, maybe they will think twice before they kill somebody”, Ms Rigg concluded.

Mark Duggan was shot dead by police marksmen on August 4th, after police intercepted the minicab he was travelling in. The police's failure to explain why Duggan was shot, sparked the Tottenham riots that escalated in to nationwide unrest last month.

The Duggan family meanwhile continue to await answers as the Independent Complaints Commission (IPCC) continue to investigate the events of that August evening.

Duggan family friend Kareen Vere suggests there to be only one way to vindicate the Met at this stage: “I suggest that if the police want to have better relations with the community, then they need to be real, they need to tell the truth, and they need to have honour.”