A man is fighting for his life in hospital after being shot in a brazen daylight attack in Peckham, sparking a major police response and widespread concern among local residents.
The violent incident unfolded on Thursday afternoon near the junction of Clayton Road and St Mary's Road, with emergency services rushing to the scene following multiple reports of gunfire.
Emergency Response and Police Activity
Metropolitan Police officers and London Ambulance Service paramedics arrived at the location shortly after 3:30 PM to find a man suffering from serious gunshot wounds. Witnesses reported seeing a significant police presence with multiple patrol cars and armed officers securing the area.
A police spokesperson confirmed: "We were called at approximately 3:35 PM to reports of a shooting. A man was found with injuries and has been taken to hospital. His condition is being treated as life-threatening."
Crime Scene Investigation Underway
Forensic teams have erected a large crime scene tent and are conducting a thorough examination of the area. The entire section of Clayton Road remains cordoned off as detectives work to piece together the events leading up to the shooting.
Local residents expressed their shock at the violence occurring in broad daylight. One neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, told reporters: "It's terrifying that this could happen in the middle of the afternoon. You don't expect to hear gunshots while children are coming home from school."
Appeal for Witnesses and Information
Detectives from the Metropolitan Police's Specialist Crime Command are leading the investigation and are urging anyone with information to come forward. They're particularly interested in speaking to motorists with dashcam footage or local residents with CCTV that might have captured the incident or suspicious activity in the area.
Police have reassured the community that additional patrols will be visible in the area while the investigation continues. No arrests have been made at this stage, and the motive behind the attack remains unclear.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police via 101 or anonymously through Crimestoppers, quoting reference number 5432 of May 23.
