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A five-year-old girl was in a critical condition today after being being caught in the crossfire of an apparent botched shooting inside a shop.
Detectives hunting the gunman - who shot the child and a man in his 30s - suspect the attack could be a case of mistaken identity.
The two victims were taken to King's College Hospital in critical conditions after being gunned down in Stockwell Food & Wine shop, on Stockwell Road, south London.
Police were called to the scene at 9.15pm yesterday. It is believed the girl was shot in the chest.
Locals believe she was a relative of the shop's owners but she is not thought to be a family member of the man who was shot.
A worker at a nearby store said he heard that a group of black youths on bicycles had been involved in a row with a man at the shop. Shots were fired and the girl was hit accidentally.
Parents outside Stockwell Primary School said they heard youths had returned and fired shots after they were banned from the store.
Peter Robbins, one of three Lambeth councillors who represent the area, said local people were horrified.
"It is incredibly shocking, I think the whole community at the moment is numb and horrified, and rightly so," he said.
"There is a fairly well-known problem with gangs and guns in Lambeth, it is something that the council and the police are working together incredibly hard to solve. Obviously, there is always more you can do and incidents like this really bring that home."
Barny Stutter, 45, co-owner of nearby Brixton Cycles, said workers in the area's fast food shops were regularly hassled by yobs.
"We are absolutely disgusted with what's happened," he said.
"The truth is the gunman's probably about 15 with a mentality of about five.
"I am sure they will be caught but it is disgusting.
"This area has recovered from a bad reputation built up in the media but we love to live and work in the community."
The parade of shops was cordoned off this morning and five police cars were parked outside.
Stockwell Green Court, an access road behind the main road, was also sealed off by the police.
Officers guarded the cordon and were taking the details of those who wanted to access the area. The incident is being investigated by Trident detectives.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "Emergency services found a five-year-old girl and a 35-year-old man suffering from gunshots wounds.
"They were both taken to a south London hospital. Their conditions are described as critical but stable."
Rachel Heywood, Lambeth Council cabinet member for community safety, said: "Tackling serious violence is a major priority for this council.
"A crime like this is hugely shocking and we will of course do everything in our power to assist the police with their investigation.
"Our thoughts are with the victims and their families at what must be an extremely distressing time."
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