A mother who "would do anything for anyone" has been killed in a triple shooting on her doorstep.
Lianne Gordon, 42, died at the scene in Hackney as residents heard her young daughter scream: “My mum has been shot.”
Two others – a 20-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy – were taken to hospital suffering from wounds with their conditions still being assessed on Wednesday morning.
Scotland Yard are investigating a possible gangland link to the crime with Ms Gordon not believed to have been the target and there were reports of gunfire nearby on Saturday.
Police were called to reports of fresh gunfire outside a house on Vine Close at roughly 6.30pm on Tuesday.
A terrified neighbour said: “I heard three shots, then there was a girl screaming ‘My mum has been shot in the head’.
“I thought the gunshots were fireworks at first but then it was carnage and chaos on the street.”
Scotland Yard launched a murder investigation but there have been no arrests so far.
However, a source said: “We do not believe she was the intended victim.
“It is believed they had come for someone else at the house.”
Ms Gordon's family paid tribute in a statement saying: "Lianne had a heart of gold, we her family are going to miss herimmensely.”
A friend of the victim told MailOnline Ms Gordon had only returned from a family holiday to Jamaica hours before she was killed.
Nurse Jackie Finnigan said: "Lianne was my best friend and a wonderful woman. She had a big heart and time for everyone.
"She'd been in Jamaica with her kids and only got back on Tuesday. They went there quite often to escape part of the British winter and always enjoyed visiting family and being in the sun."
Another friend of the family, Lucinda Ledeatte, 68, said Ms Gordon was trying to protect her wheelchair-bound son.“We were told she was defending the son and she got shot.
“She was bubbly and outgoing. A very good mother.”Metropolitan Police Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway has said the force is considering the possibility the shooting was “gang-linked”.
He said: “We believe all the victims of the shooting were known to each other but they were not related. I want to offer my most sincere condolences to the family and friends of the victims and also to all of those affected in the wider community by this incident."
He added: “We are also aware of a recent incident in which police were again called to shots being fired in Vine Close on the evening of Saturday, December 2.
“In response to that separate incident officers found shell casings at the scene but there were no trace of any victim or suspect.
“The Met specialist crime command is again continuing to investigate that separate incident, however one of our lines of inquiry is to determine whether these two incidents are linked.”
A second neighbour, who had known Ms Gordon for 15 years and had seen her teenage boy and a girl grow up, said the killing was a “shock to the system”.
She said: “How can I look the kids in the eye knowing they are still here but their mother is not? It’s so heartbreaking.
“She was a lovely woman, a great mother who would do anything for anyone.
“If you needed her she was there. She was so down to earth. Last time I knew she was working in the childcare industry.”
The woman said she did not know the other victims, adding: “She lived with her children. I saw them grow up. For this to happen to someone you see day to day is terrible. I have no idea how or why this can have happened to her.”
Flowers were laid outside the police cordon alongside a card which said: “To Lianne: Such a beautiful soul gone too soon!”
A close family friend of Ms Gordon for 15 years told the Standard “she was like a sister”.
Jackie Finnigan, 52, said at the crime scene: “I had to come as I was still in denial.
“I just needed to see for myself if what I heard was true as I could not believe what had happened to my friend.
“She was part of my family.”
She added: “She’s like my sister. She’s like family to us. She was amazing.
“She was always on hand to help anyone.
Detectives and forensic experts were trawling the small housing development in a quiet, residential part of Hackney for clues.
They were seen examining the boot of a silver car.
CCTV footage is being collected from surrounding area while door-to-door inquiries are carried out.
Healthcare worker Jean Aremola, 70, who has lived in the area for 40 years, said: “I’m getting out of here it’s too violent it’s becoming a nightmare.”
Another resident, named only as Mahir, added: “She was very nice lady very. We are devastated. She was trying to protect someone and was not the target.”
Detective Superintendent Vicky Tunstall, from the local policing team in Hackney, said: “This shocking incident has resulted in the death of a young woman and my thoughts are with her family at this incredibly difficult time. My thoughts are also with the two people who have been taken to hospital.
“We are still in the early stages of our investigation and a team of specialist detectives are working to establish what has happened.
“Officers will remain in the area over the coming days.
“I do not underestimate the impact this incident will have on people in Hackney and I understand the community will want answers about what has happened this evening. We will share further information as our investigation progresses.
“Gun crime has no place on the streets of London and we will do all we can to bring whoever is responsible for this despicable crime to justice.”
Mayor of Hackney Caroline Woodley and Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Cllr Susan Fajana-Thomas, said: "We are deeply shocked and saddened to learn that a woman has died after a fatal shooting which left two others injured in Vine Close, Hackney Downs last night. Our thoughts and condolences are with all those affected, their family, neighbours and friends.
“While incidents like this are rare in Hackney, we know that the events of last night will cause concern for local people. We want to reassure everyone that we're committed to doing all we can to prevent what are fortunately isolated events.
"The police will be working in the area over the coming days to continue their investigation. Council officers will be supporting the police and helping to reassure those affected within the community."
Anyone who witnessed the shooting, or has information about what happened, is asked to call 101 quoting CAD 5811/05Dec.
