The mother of an eight-year-old schoolgirl who was caught in the crossfire of a shooting in West London was heard shouting, ‘My baby, my baby’s been shot.’
Armed officers from Metropolitan Police were called to Southern Row in Kensington, at 5.34pm on Sunday following reports of gunfire.
Witnesses say they heard ‘four or five shots’ as well as screaming, as the gunman was seen firing directly into a car on the street.
One witness, 64, told Metro: ‘I heard shots, and then a woman shouting: ‘My baby, my baby’s been shot…it makes me sick to think about it now.
‘There were four or five shots, there was screaming it’s horrible. A neighbour went out Ruth a duvet to cover the injured.’
An urgent manhunt is now underway for the Ladbroke Grove gunman after the girl and a 34-year-old man were both seriously injured in the shooting.
They were both treated at the scene by London Ambulance Service before being rushed to hospital.
Police said the girl’s injuries are not life-threatening, but officers are awaiting an update on the man’s condition.
Superintendent Owen Renowden said: ‘This is an appalling incident that has left two people seriously injured, including a young girl who thankfully is in a stable condition this morning.
‘I am appealing to the public who may have been in the area at the time of the shooting. Did you hear any gunshots around 5.30pm yesterday evening? Did you see anyone fleeing from the area?
‘We are keen to hear from anyone who may have any information surrounding this incident. Your information matters, no matter how insignificant you may think it is.’
A 32-year-old woman was also taken to hospital as a precaution but was not injured.
Sharon, who was in the area to visit her mother said: ‘The guy was shooting directly into a car.
‘I was literally coming out of the exit to my mum’s block of flats and as I was going out, I saw a guy shooting into the car multiple times.
‘He was firing directly, like at close range as if you’re standing to open a door, they were shooting directly into it.
‘I was completely in shock and I just ran back up the stairs because I was really scared.’
‘Then I looked and I heard screaming afterwards, and then people coming out to call the police.
Sharon, who did not wish to give her surname, added: ‘I’ve noticed in the last several years, it has become a lot more unsafe for the people here.’
Another woman living near the scene, who did not want to be named, said she was ‘scared’ after the shooting.
She was in the kitchen cooking and thought fireworks were going off, before armed police arrived and she discovered what had happened.
Local MP Joe Powell said several incidents in the area recently had left residents in fear.
In a statement on X the Labour politician, who represents Kensington and Bayswater, said: ‘These senseless acts of violence have no place on our streets.
‘I know residents in the local community will be rightly concerned for their safety after several recent incidents in the neighbourhood.
‘We must work together to better prevent these horrific crimes from happening, and hold those responsible to account.’
Several roads in Ladbroke Grove and Maida Vale remain heavily cordoned off as forensic teams scour for evidence, including bullet casings.
Residents in the area reported hearing helicopters overhead and witnessed police vehicles with sirens passing through the streets.
Uber driver Ali Hussein, who is the father of a nine-year-old girl told Metro he fears for his child’s safety.
Lloyd Markham, 60, said: ‘I’ve lived here about 25 years, and it seems like a really safe place to live, but now you start to hear about all these stabbings and shootings.
‘It’s very sad. Why fire a gun with kids around? How can you do that to someone?’
Other residents expressed concern about the rise in violent crime in the area.
In July of this year, a 15-year-old boy was shot dead at Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance, or ‘Teletubbies Park’ on Southern Row.
The boy was enjoying a ‘family fun day’ event before Notting Hill Carnival when he was shot and succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
A security officer who was working at the event said: ‘A teenager was assassinated. I was right there. People were rushing and everyone was screaming. They were rushing through the barrier. There were two gunshots.
‘We had booked the street that’s cordoned off for a film shoot tomorrow. I don’t know if that’s going to happen now.’
Another security officer for a nearby building said he saw a helicopter at five or six PM.
Police enquiries into the incident on Sunday are ongoing.
Witnesses can contact police on 101, giving the reference CAD5238/24NOV, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or online.