A 14-year-old schoolboy who was shot dead in broad daylight in London was killed in a ‘targeted attack’ amid rampaging gang ‘postcode wars’, locals have claimed.
Eghosa Ogbebor was found lifeless as police responded to emergency calls at 3.40pm on Thursday on Lord Warwick Street in Woolwich.
Two teenagers – aged 14 and 16 – and an 18-year-old man have since been arrested on suspicion of murder. All three remain in custody.
And residents have now claimed the violence came as part of ongoing gang warfare in the southeast London borough.
Local gardener Tom Henson, 36, said: ‘A friend heard gunshots. It’s the same thing as what happened just around the corner. It’s getting a bit ridiculous now.
‘There’s a big gang problem and you don’t get the support of the police, do you?
‘A month or two ago there was a boy running up to another shouting, “Where you from?”
‘It’s a postcode war, “these kids can’t come into this area”, there’s loads of little groups hanging about, it’s almost normal.’
Eghosa Ogbebor (pictured) was found lifeless as police responded to emergency calls at 3.40pm on Thursday on Lord Warwick Street in Woolwich
Two teenagers – aged 14 and 16 – and an 18-year-old man have since been arrested on suspicion of murder. All three remain in custody. Pictured: The scene on Lord Warwick Street
Residents have now claimed the violence came as part of ongoing gang warfare in the southeast London borough. Pictured: Forensics at the scene
The area around the street where the shooting took place was cordoned off on Friday, with a dozen police officers at the scene.
Forensic teams appeared to be searching a patch of grass by the roadside, as well in bins and bushes.
Detectives and uniformed officers have been talking to neighbours.
Locals, including councillors, have been laying flowers in tribute at the scene, which is near Woolwich Ferry and Woolwich Dockyard train station.
Detectives have set up a police tent on the terrace of a flat above a row of shops and The Greyhound pub.
Barmaid Sofia Pereira, 33, said she heard someone fall on one of the bins on the pub’s patio during the shooting.
Ms Pereira said she then saw a teenager run through the patio towards Woolwich Church Street.
She said: ‘I was inside when obviously, everything happened.
‘But I just heard like a big “bang”, like a big, strong “boom”, which was obviously one of the kids, I think, jumping on the wall, through the bin, and then obviously the bin fell and broke, then he just ran off.’
She added: ‘It was a lovely day yesterday, a few people were outside.
‘And obviously everyone got scared because they heard shooting and they could see one of the guys had a machete, or something like that.
‘So everyone just ran inside, said, “Lock, lock all the doors and everything”, because obviously we didn’t know what was going on.’
Ms Pereira said about ten customers who were on the patio ran inside ‘panicking’, adding the atmosphere in the pub was ‘very overwhelming’.
Abdul Jan, 29, who lives in the area and owns a fish and chip shop in Greenwich said it was ‘very surprising’ to hear of a shooting in the neighbourhood.
He said: ‘I mean, I don’t think it’s a safe area, but it’s one thing when you hear of a stabbing, this happens a lot, it’s another thing when you hear about a shooting.’
Another barmaid at The Greyhound pub told the Daily Mail she did not witness the incident but ‘heard a loud bang outside’.
She added: ‘I think one of the people involved jumped off to try and get away. I think one of them may have lived in the flats.’
The landlady of the popular local pub said she had been contacted by police for CCTV.
An 18-year-old girl, who lives on the street where the shooting happened, said it was ‘definitely shocking’.
The teen, who wished to remain anonymous, said on Friday ‘it feels a bit unreal’ walking around the area after the violent attack.
‘I heard like a, “Pop”, yeah, but that’s it. My dad heard a bit more but I didn’t hear much,’ she said.
‘A shooting is surprising, but there has been quite a lot going on around this area, down there, the past couple of years. But a shooting was definitely shocking.’
A few yards away from the shooting a Jamaican food van owner said he had briefly left the scene – to locate a generator – when the incident took place.
He added: ‘When I came back, the police were everywhere. They are speaking to people in the pub.’
Another local said there were reports the gun had ‘ended up in the Thames’: ‘I was here ten minutes after the shooting.
‘I went to the Premier shop and four armed police were arresting someone on suspicion of murder.
‘It was a planned attack according to people who live round here.’
According to the resident, roughly 15 boys were armed with machetes during the attack – though this is yet to be confirmed by police.
He added: ‘Apparently the people involved haven’t only just come round today – they have been here for the past week looking for someone.’
Brittany Nixon, 28, told The Sun: ‘I heard a bang, and then I heard loads of police sirens and screaming. It is a bit scary it’s on my doorstep. This area’s not the best.
‘My aunty said the other day there was a couple of boys who had been lurking around here. She had seen them the past few days.’
Resident Lesley Turner, 71, said he was arriving home yesterday just before 5pm, when the cordon was already in place, and saw ‘lots of police’.
He said: ‘It’s terrifying – we don’t get any trouble here at all, it’s brilliant people in my block…
‘It’s just Woolwich isn’t it – people will tell you they’re not surprised.
‘We’re lucky but we’re aware of what goes on. There’s horrific, horrific things. The county lines are rife in this area. It’s just horrible.’
Another local, who did not wish to be named, said: ‘I heard gunshots. It’s quite sickening, really.’
A woman, who asked not to be named, also said: ‘They’re just young kids, it’s kids killing kids again.’
Detective Chief Inspector Lucie Card said: ‘Our thoughts remain with Eghosa’s family and loved ones.
‘They are being supported by specially trained officers and have asked for privacy at this difficult time.
Forensic officers and sniffer dogs are seen on Lord Warwick Street where the boy was stabbed on Thursday
Forensics on Europa Road in the estate opposite the Greyhound Pub close to where the stabbing took place
She added: ‘I know the concern this has caused within Woolwich and the wider community, particularly considering Eghosa’s young age.
‘We have an increased police presence around the area.
‘While we have made three arrests, our investigation continues and I would urge anyone with any information to come forward and speak to officers.’
London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan said: ‘My thoughts are with the family, friends and wider community in Woolwich following the appalling fatal shooting of a 14-year-old boy.
‘There is absolutely no place for this heartbreaking violence.
‘I remain in close contact with the Met, who have been working around the clock. Arrests have already been made and an investigation is under way.
‘Residents will see an increase in police in the local area.’
Anyone with information or footage of the incident has been asked to contact police by calling 101, quoting CAD 4848/2APR.
Alternatively, those who wish to anonymously report can call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
