A murder investigation is underway after a woman was gunned down in Hackney, police have confirmed.
Police responded to reports of a shooting just before 6.30pm this evening on a road in Lower Clapton, East London. On arrival, emergency responders from the Met and the London Ambulance Service discovered three individuals with gunshot wounds.
Despite their best efforts, a 42-year-old female victim could not be saved and passed away at the scene. In a statement, the Met said that they are in the process of informing the woman's next of kin before they're supported by specialist family liaison officers. A 20-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy were rushed to hospital, where their injuries are being assessed and treated.
One local resident told LBC that the area is a "friendly" cul-de sac and described the incident as a "shock to the system". She added that the 42-year-old woman who died from her injuries after the shooting was a good neighbour and a "very, very down to earth person". Local reports said she was a mother with two teenage children, a boy and a girl. A police source meanwhile told the Evening Standard that investigators believe she "was not the intended victim" of the shooting, and that the attacker may have "come for someone else at the house" while she protected them.
Forensic teams were seen surrounding a car at the entrance to the road, with five police officers standing guard at the cordon through the night and into Wednesday morning. Detective Superintendent Vicky Tunstall, from the local policing team in Hackney, said in a statement: "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 at the scene overnight and will be 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." There have been no arrests. Anyone who witnessed the shooting, or has information about what happened, is asked to call 101 quoting CAD 5811/05Dec.