Shot teenager 'was friend of X Factor star Leona Lewis'

A teenage friend of X Factor star Leona Lewis was gunned down after reportedly being asked by two youths where he was from.

The 17-year-old boy, named in reports as Etem Celebi, is believed to be a close friend of Lewis, 22, and her childhood sweetheart Lou Al-Chamaa.

The singer and her long-standing boyfriend, an electrician, grew up with the victim in the same area of Hackney in east London, according to the Sun.

A friend of Mr Al-Chamaa - whom Lewis has previously said she plans to marry - told the paper: "We have known him almost all our lives."

The singer, who is currently enjoying huge success with her second single Bleeding Love and is poised to do the same with her album Spirit, is said to be devastated following the shooting.

Reports said Etem was sitting on a wall with friends when he was approached by two youths who asked: "Are you from here?"

When he replied "Yes", the youths opened fire, killing him at point-blank range.

Officers found the 17-year-old, of Turkish heritage, with gunshot wounds in Stoke Newington, north London, at around 9.50pm on Wednesday.

He was pronounced dead at the scene shortly before 11pm and Scotland Yard are now conducting a murder inquiry.

Police have said the circumstances surrounding the incident are unclear and they have an open mind regarding any motive.

The murder is being investigated by detectives from the Homicide and Serious Command unit, Scotland Yard said.

Tributes have poured in to Etem's Myspace page. One friend wrote: "God was lookin for an angel and he has found one, but why did he have to take u now, it aint sinkin in."

Another wrote: "I cant believe that this has happened and words cant ever describe how unfair it is. Wherever you are, rest in peace xxx."

Officers believe they know who the dead teenager is but are awaiting formal identification.

The shooting happened in Clevedon Close in Stoke Newington and yesterday the road was cordoned off as experts undertook forensic tests. No arrests have yet been made.

It is the latest high-profile incident of violent crime involving youngsters.

More than 20 teenagers have been shot or stabbed in London so far this year.

The violence has not been restricted to the capital, with a series of similar incidents across the country, such as the shooting of 11-year-old Rhys Jones in Liverpool.

A local resident who was at the scene as the boy lay dying described the mother's hysterics today.

The man, who has lived in the area for several years and whose house overlooks the scene of the shooting, said he heard the shots before running out to see what had happened.

He said: "It was five rapid fire shots and then there was a space before one or two more.

"Then there was a kind of silence."

He said he was in the house when he heard the shots but was not too concerned because fireworks had been going off in the area for many days.

He heard screaming but assumed again that it was just kids playing.

"The screaming became more and more like somebody was being attacked. Then I looked out of the window and that's when I heard someone shout 'he's been shot, call an ambulance'."

The man phoned for an ambulance and went outside where the boy was lying unconscious on his back with his eyes open.

"There were about 15 people milling around but nobody knew what to do.

"Had we had any first aid knowledge, we might have been able to help him.

"His mum was absolutely hysterical, screaming.

"People were trying to restrain her because she wanted to get to the body but at the same time she couldn't cope.

"The dad was standing right next to the body not knowing what to do."

He said after about 10 to 15 minutes about 10 police cars arrived followed by a couple of paramedics who were on foot.

The paramedics started to cut through the boy's clothing, put a tube down the boy's throat, and asked the crowd to make space.

The man said he could not see where the wound was but another witness who lifted up the boy's shirt to try to find the injury told him he could see where the bullet had penetrated at the back and it was "still hanging out".

The man said he saw paramedics giving the 17-year-old resuscitation and he realised the situation was extremely serious.

The ambulance did not arrive for 20 to 30 minutes after the first call, by which time police were already cordoning off the area.

The ambulance crew stayed with him for about 10 minutes but there were no sirens to take him away so the man presumed he had died at the scene.

This morning Smalley Close estate remained mostly closed off with police tape.

Inside the estate, on Clevedon Close, a police tent has been erected on the street.

Several forensic officers could be seen at work and there was a heavy police presence in the area.

Tributes of flowers, photos, and candles were left near the scene of the shooting.

One tribute read: "With all my love I write this; every time Arsenal wins I'll be thinking of you. Hope you appreciate the flowers, red and white especially. I'll miss you! We all will! You are a star. Love Jemma."

Another tribute read: "Etem, you are the first fallen soldier. Dwayne."

Police later removed the tent which had been erected at the scene and the area was hosed down.

Family members at the home of the victim said they did not wish to talk at this time.

A few local youths arrived to lay flowers and to pay their respects at the scene of the shooting.

One photograph amongst the tributes showed Etem as a young boy in football kit, holding a trophy.

Another showed him later on in life wearing a woolly hat and gold chain with a cross.

A resident on the estate, who did not want to be named, described how she saw the teenager staggering outside her window after he had been shot.

She said: "I was in my bedroom when I heard a noise like fireworks four times.

"My daughter said 'oh mummy they've started again'.

"I saw the victim running, crouching down and holding his stomach. It was like he was running in slow motion. It was like in a movie."

She said she thought the youth was playing and did not go outside to investigate but after a few minutes she heard screaming.

She continued: "When I came outside he was lying down and mum and dad were there as well as a few neighbours.

"I wanted to do something. I told the guys to talk to him to keep him awake.

"He was getting paler. He didn't say anything - he couldn't."

She said the estate could not be described as a quiet place and she would sometimes feel intimidated by groups of youths hanging out together at night.

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