A 16-year-old boy shot dead in south London by an assailant described as being dressed as a food delivery driver on a moped has been named by the Metropolitan police as Lathaniel Burrell.
Officers were called at about 3pm on Tuesday to reports of a shooting at Paradise Road in Stockwell. Lathaniel died while being treated at the scene by paramedics. Police are continuing to appeal for witnesses and information.
A witness told the BBC the teenager was shot dead by a man dressed as a food delivery driver on a moped, who took out a gun and fired when two boys came down the stairs of a block of flats.
A man, who said he was the boy’s uncle, told the PA Media news agency: “They came on a moped dressed as Deliveroo drivers.”
No arrests have yet been made and detectives are keeping an open mind about the possible motive for the attack.
Relatives of Lathaniel described the teenager as a Manchester United fan who enjoyed playing PlayStation 5 and had one sibling, a sister.
A woman who said she knew the family described the teenager as “very bright at school”. Another told the BBC: “It’s very sad; we know the family. The dad, who is very well known round here, brought up our kids in youth clubs. It is awful, really sad, and really horrible.”
Florence Eshalomi, the Labour MP for Vauxhall and Camberwell Green, said: “Stockwell is a vibrant, diverse, close-knit community. We are going to make sure that there is a visible police presence to reassure people.”
The MP added: “This is a sad, wasted life; this boy could have had so much potential. His future has been robbed. The family and community will continue to grieve; you can never get over this shock.”
DCI Sarah Lee said: “This is a horrendous crime which has shocked the local community and beyond. Our thoughts are with Lathaniel’s family and friends at this devastating time.
“Our investigation is continuing at pace, examining CCTV and collecting witnesses statements. We have deployed officers to the area on reassurance patrol, and have officers on the ground engaging with the local schools.”
The killing is the first fatal shooting in London this year. There were 13 in 2024 out of a total of 105 homicides recorded by the Metropolitan police.
