Battersea shooting: Man dies after being 'shot on his doorstep' on Christmas Eve

The death is the 142nd homicide in London this year – the highest number since 2008

The shooting happened on Battersea Church Road in southwest London (SWNS)

A man has died after being shot on Christmas Eve in southwest London, the Metropolitan Police have said.

Officers were called to Battersea Church Road at about 9pm on December 24 to reports of shots being fired.

Police and the London Ambulance Service attended the scene, where a man believed to be in his 30s was pronounced dead after suffering gunshot injuries.

Scotland Yard confirmed it had launched a murder investigation into the death.

Julian Stratton, 51, was at his parents’ home just metres from the scene at the time of the incident.

He said: “We are friends with a man who lives directly opposite the scene. He told us there was a knock at the victim’s door, which was answered.

"Then there were five gunshots. Four back-to-back, ‘bang, bang, bang, bang,’ then a pause before the final shot.

“The shots were heard by many neighbours, but being Christmas Eve, most people thought they were fireworks, at first."

He added: “My neighbour’s partner is a health worker. He went to help the man, who was lying on his driveway, before the police and ambulances arrived.

The victim, believed to be in his 30s, was pronounced dead at the scene (SWNS)

“It is thought that one round entered the victim’s neck, but where the other four ended up are unknown."

The death is the 142nd homicide identified by the PA news agency in London in 2019, the highest number in a calendar year since 2008.

Last year there were 141 police-recorded homicides in the capital, according to Home Office statistics.

No arrests have been made and homicide detectives are investigating, the Met said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 or tweet MetCC and quote CAD 6410/24Dec.

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Additional reporting by agencies