The family of a teenager shot dead in a south London housing estate today said they were “in pieces” as police hunted his killer.
Kyle McDonald, 19, was the 10th teenager to be murdered in London this year and the fourth to be fatally shot.
Speaking at his family home in Fulham, his father, who did not want to be named, said: “We have nothing to say right now. We are all in pieces.”
His aunt, who also declined to give her name, said: “The whole family is in shock at the moment. We are just trying to find out what happened because we just don’t know at the moment so we can’t say anything more at this time.”
Police have launched a murder inquiry but said they are keeping an “open mind” as to the circumstances and motive behind the shooting. No arrests have been made.
The teenager, who performed as a rapper under the name Veli Goodfellaz, was shot on the Kambala Estate in Battersea, south London just before 8pm on Wednesday.
He was found collapsed in Coppock Close after apparently staggering from Fawcett Close where he was shot. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
A local woman whose son was a friend of Kyle said a Good Samaritan had been threatened with a gun while trying to resuscitate the victim.
The woman, who did not want to be named, added: “I think it’s a case of mistaken identity. He was a good lad, a good Christian boy. He did a lot of stuff for the church.
“When I heard I went to the street where he collapsed. Someone had called his mum and she was there. I was comforting her.”
Friends and relatives have taken to Twitter to pay their respects to the teenager.
Dominic Drury wrote: “So sad the news about Kyle McDonald, the Kyle i (sic) knew was a polite, well mannered young man with his whole life infront of him. Tragic.”
Another user, @trebinho Tweeted: “RIP to my older cousin and my big brother Kyle McDonald 31-05-1994 - 18-09-2013”
Detective Chief Inspector Matt Bonner, who is leading the hunt for the killer, said:
“Police were called at 7.51pm on Wednesday to an injured man in Coppock Close, Battersea.
“Officers and paramedics attended. A 19-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene at 8.14pm.”
A post-mortem examination has been scheduled to take place this afternoon.
DCI Bonner added: “We retain an open mind regarding the circumstances of the incident and any motive at this early stage.
“We are still in the early stages of the investigation and are carrying out a number of inquires into the circumstances of this incident.
“I am keen to establish if there was anyone in the area who saw or heard anything suspicious yesterday evening. I’m appealing for anyone to please come forward and help us with our inquiry.”
