Innocent victim of south London drive-by shooting 'was loving son' » Communities » 24dash.com

The unintended victim of a drive-by shooting was a "decent, hard-working young man and loving son", his mother said tonight.

Ryan Bravo, 18, died after he was caught up in an apparent gang fight at a convenience store in Walworth, south east London.

His mother, Elfrida Kiffin, said he was a loving brother, partner and son who was already dearly missed.

In a statement, she said: "I would like to state that Ryan was a decent, hard-working young man and loving son.

"This is an extremely difficult time for all of us that knew and loved Ryan and I would ask that we are given the time and space to grieve in private.

"I would urge anyone that knows or saw anything to come forward and assist officers from Operation Trident in their ongoing efforts to trace witnesses to this cold-blooded and reckless act."

Police believe the intended victims of the shooting could hold the key to identifying the gunman and his accomplices.

Detectives were tonight hunting two young black men who rushed inside the Costcutter shop in a bid to escape the armed moped-riding gang.

As they ducked for cover, at least two shots were fired towards the shop, fatally wounding Mr Bravo.

The young black man, who became the 22nd teenager to die violently in the capital this year, had dropped in to buy snacks with his brother and cousin.

Eyewitnesses said he was hit in the back of the neck moments after the two men pushed past him into the shop.

Investigators were probing whether the murder was linked to a shooting five hours earlier on the Myatts Field North Estate in Brixton.

Detective Inspector Tim Carter said officers have not been able to trace the two men who fled the scene among panicking shoppers.

He said: "The victim, who comes from Lambeth, was walking down Camberwell Road with his brother and cousin and they made a stop a Costcutter to get some provisions on the way home.

"Two other black males barged past them into the shop and the victim was shot in the back.

"The shots were fired by two men on scooters, who then drove off.

"I would appeal to anyone who was in Costcutter at the time or anyone who may have witnessed the incident to come forward."

The shooting is the latest tragic episode in London's ongoing gun and knife crime crisis.

Senior officers, Government ministers and city politicians have vowed to do all they can to crack the culture of violence among teenagers.

Witnesses described how customers fled in terror as shots rang out at about 9.40pm yesterday.

An Albanian man in his 20s, who lives nearby, said he heard up to four shots fired in the space of less than 10 seconds.

He said: "I was in the shop last night buying cigarettes and four or five guys ran in.

"I didn't think anything bad was going to happen because I thought they were joking and laughing.

"They didn't look scared or angry or anything. But then I heard shots, three or four. I've never seen anyone get shot before. It was like something out of a film.

"It was all over in about seven seconds. I just put all of my stuff down and ran out of the shop.

"A hysterical lady ran out after me. Two people ran out, got on mopeds and drove away. I'm lucky to be alive."

Officers are hunting up to five male suspects who drove away on three mopeds and may have been prowling the area for some time looking for their victims.

Forensic experts examined what two bullet holes in the glass lower panels of a public telephone box several metres from the scene.

:: A 19-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and is being held at a south London police station.