Abbeyfield
The 18-year-old was shot as he walked through Abbeyfield Estate in Bermondsey Google street view

Police have opened a murder investigation after an 18-year-old man shot in the face in what is believed to have been a dispute over a girl in Bermondsey, south London died of his wounds in hospital.

According to witnesses the teen and another boy were attacked in broad daylight in Mossington Gardens, Abbeyfield estate on Sunday afternoon. Their attackers were wielding a gun and a mediaeval mace. The victim was apparently shot through the eye. Paramedics rushed him to an east London hospital where he died this afternoon. The other man wasn't shot and released from hospital.

Eye-witnesses told The Standard the two men had been walking through the estate when a silver hatchback raced towards them at speed.

"I heard a loud 'pop' and it sounded like someone letting off a firework and I could see a hatchback car parked in the road," said one witness. "There were about six people around the car and seconds later they started to run away. The car started revving its engines, before it swung violently into the cut-through at Mossington Gardens.

Murder
Policeman at a murder scene in south east London Reuters

"A minute later the car came speeding back out and tore off up the road. I saw one guy running past a block of flats carrying something that looked like a medieval mace. It was like a rounders bat with a club-like part on the end."

Residents are said to have rushed to the scene with towels and blankets in a bid to help the two men. One woman who did not give her name said: "He was just slumped there, moaning until the police and paramedics arrived. I don't think he knew what was going on. There was a lot of blood."

Two men have been arrested following the incident. A 36-year-old male was arrested this morning in south London and a 21-year-old this afternoon. Both remain in custody on suspicion of murder. The police are not believed to be treating the attack as a gang-related murder. A post-mortem will take place in due course.

London remains one of the safest cities in the world, with around 100 murders per year. "Stranger" attacks account for around 20% of the total.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the incident room on 0208 721 4805, Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit Crimestoppers-uk.org.

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