Women were shot when suspect dropped gun in Clapham police chase
Two women were injured by shotgun pellets after a suspect dropped a firearm during a police pursuit in south west London on Friday, the Metropolitan Police have said.
The manhunt for two suspects involved in the incident in Clapham continued on Saturday. The two women, aged 27 and 36, and a 27-year-old man who was hit by the moped the suspects were riding needed hospital treatment.
A Met Police spokesman said officers have established that as the suspects fled on foot, one of them dropped a shotgun, which discharged as it struck the ground. It is understood that the women were not deliberately targeted.
On Saturday, forensic officers searched the gardens of St Alphonsus Road, where four-bedroom homes can sell for more than £1.15 million.
The two suspects ran through the residential gardens as they fled.
Det Chief Insp Gemma Alger, of the Met’s Specialist Crime Unit, said: “Our investigation to identify the two people responsible is at an early stage, but we will be relentless in following up every line of enquiry to arrest them.
“The suspects fled the scene on foot. Crime scenes remain in place in St Alphonsus Road as forensic searches are ongoing at premises where the suspects made off through gardens.
“The shotgun was recovered from the scene and this will also be subject to forensic analysis.”
The manhunt comes just a month after Afghan asylum seeker Abdul Ezedi allegedly doused a woman and her two children with an alkaline substance in Clapham.
Police hunted for Ezedi, who fled from the scene, before his body was eventually found in the Thames just under three weeks later.
The Met Police confirmed on Saturday that the three people hurt in Friday’s incident have all left hospital.
Because the moped was being pursued by police, the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards and the Independent Office for Police Conduct have both been informed of the incident.
Det Chief Insp Alger added: “I want to hear from anyone with information about the incident and any witnesses yet to speak with police.
“CCTV footage will form part of our investigation, and of course I also want to hear from anyone who has dashcam footage that may assist the investigation.”