Yahoo News Pictured: Murdered London teen was 'wonderful son' and 'in the wrong place at the wrong time'
The father of a 16-year-old boy who died after being shot in the face in east London has paid tribute to his “wonderful son”.
Amaan Shakoor was shot in the face in Walthamstow on Monday night, and died in hospital with his family by his bedside on Tuesday evening.
His father, Mohammad Shakoor, said: “He was a wonderful son. We need time to come to terms with this, we are obviously devastated.”
His death came after that of Tanesha Melbourne, 17, who was gunned down around 30 minutes earlier just three miles away in Tottenham on Monday – apparently a tragic casualty of a gang war.
A friend said the shooting of the 16-year-old was a “case of mistaken identity”.
Speaking near the scene of the shooting at Walthamstow Leisure Centre, a man who gave his name only as Osman, 32, said of Amaan Shakoor: “He was just a good lad. He wasn’t involved in gangs or drugs or anything like that.
“It was a case of mistaken identity. He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. There are gang wars going on and this young lad has just unfortunately got caught up in it.
“He was in his last year at school studying for his GCSEs. He had his whole future ahead of him.”
Osman said the youngster was just a normal boy who was into football and loved hanging out with friends and going out to eat.
Shirley Chase, 78, who lives a few doors away from Amaan’s family in Walthamstow, said he knew the youngster who was “very pleasant”.
He said: “I have been to see the family. They are very, very sad. He is only 16. I would see him walking up and down the street. I have been seeing him since he was a kid.
“It is just such a waste of life. I have been here since 1969 and the violence has got worse. If they cut all the funds, what do you expect? They have cut all of it to all services.”
LONDON’S 2018 MURDER TOLL REACHES 48
The boy’s death took the capital’s murder toll for the year so far to 48 in little over three months.
Officers were called to Markhouse Road in Walthamstow at around 10pm on Monday to reports that shots had been fired.
Scotland Yard said a 16-year-old boy who was found with gunshot injuries, died in hospital surrounded by his family on Tuesday afternoon.
Acting Chief Superintendent Tania Coulson said: “Yesterday was a shocking night for all of us in Waltham Forest which left two young men suffering terrible injuries; one of whom has now died.
“We are doing all we can to address community concerns.
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“Over the past 24 hours we have had extra officers patrolling the streets, additional police cars on the road and specialist officers from our Operation Sceptre unit carrying out a range of intelligence led operations and patrols.
“I would like to reassure members of this community that this strong police presence will continue.”
STOP AND SEARCH MEASURES IN PLACE
Ms Coulson said Section 60, an intelligence led pre-authorised power to stop and search, has been in place since Monday and will be until at least the early hours of Wednesday.
“My officers have been on the streets using this power really effectively, seizing knives, stopping cars of young men carrying weapons and making arrests,” she added.
Scotland Yard said no arrests have been made and inquiries are continuing into the incident in Walthamstow, revealing that the homicide and major crime command are investigating alongside the Trident area crime command.
A 15-year-old boy, also discovered at the scene in Walthamstow, was treated for stab injuries which are no longer life-changing and he was subsequently been released from hospital, a Scotland Yard spokesman said.
Acting Detective Chief Inspector Glenn Butler from the Trident and area crime command said he fully appreciates the “alarm, shock and revulsion” caused by the Walthamstow murder and other fatal shootings.
Tanesha was shot in Chalgrove Road, Tottenham, north London, shortly before 9.30pm on Monday.
Her mother laid flowers at the scene on Tuesday, with a card reading: “To my baby Nesha. I’m gonna miss you so much, you’re always gonna be with me everywhere I go.”
It was signed “Love Mummy”.
SHOOTING “LINKED TO MILKSHAKE BAR BRAWL”
It was reported that Tanesha’s death may have been linked to a brawl between youths in a milkshake bar in central London on Easter Sunday.
Mobile phone footage of the incident at Tinseltown diner in Farringdon was shared online, and showed three men punching and kicking a young black male in a stairwell, while a woman lay on top of him trying to protect him.
While it remains unclear if Tanesha was in the video, it is believed the fight is linked to a feud between gangs in the Wood Green area of north London, the Sun reported.
Schoolfriend Candice Hassan, 17, said Tanesha was “in the wrong place at the wrong time”.
“Everyone knows Tanesha, she’s just a humble girl. It was just the wrong place at the wrong time. She didn’t deserve any of that.”
Tanesha’s aunt, who did not give her name, said: “We’re going to stop the shooting, we’re going to stop these stabbings.
“It’s not good enough. We’re going to bring this whole area to a standstill. My niece has gone now and my sister’s in turmoil. It’s terrible.”
