An innocent takeaway delivery driver dropping off his last order of the day is dead along with a second man following a gun attack in south London.
The two men died in the apparent drive-by shooting on Sunday evening and police have launched a manhunt for the killers.
Cops were called just before 8pm after reports of gunshots were heard on Railton Road in Brixton, south London, with firearm specialists from the Metropolitan Police rushing to the scene along with the London Ambulance Service.
Despite the efforts of emergency services, both men were pronounced dead at the scene by medics.
Local residents described 12 shots being fired between "a pair on a moped and people in a car" and vehicles crashing.
On Monday, a Deliveroo driver working near the scene said he knew one of the victims, who had been making his last delivery of the day when he died.
The moped delivery rider has been named online as 21-year-old Guilherme Messias da Silva, 21, who came from Petrolina de Goias near the Brazilian capital Brasilia.
It was understood that he died from his injuries after being hit by one of the cars as it careered out of control during the shooting.
Paulo Silva, 42, described him as a "good boy" and "young" and said he had been planning to go to Brazil in December.
The Metropolitan Police has not yet confirmed the identities of those who died.
White forensic tents had been put up at the scene on Monday, where debris could be seen strewn across the road.
There were two crashed vehicles - a silver car which had lost one of its tyres and a moped.
A 322 bus was left parked within the police cordon.
Police confirmed in a statement that no arrests have yet been made as they appeal for anyone with information to come forward.
Local resident Sebastian Morrison last night said: "I came across the scene when I went to the shop so I'm not a direct witness. I spoke to a few locals who did hear and see some of it.
"Shots were heard and a policewoman at scene told me it was a shooting. 12 shots were heard by locals, fire exchanged between a pair on a moped and people in a car. The car is crashed at the scene."
A Met spokesperson said in a statement: "Police were called at about 19:50hrs on Sunday, 30 October to reports of gunshots heard on Railton Road, SE24.
Officers, including firearms officers, are in attendance along with the London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance.
"Two men were found injured at the location. Despite the efforts of emergency services, they were both pronounced dead at the scene. The nature of their injuries has not been confirmed at this time.
"Local residents will see an enhanced police presence in the area and are advised to speak with officers if they have any information," the spokesperson added.
"At this stage, there have been no arrests and enquiries continue.
"Anyone with information is asked to call police via 101 quoting reference CAD 6166/30Oct. To remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."
Chief Superintendent Colin Wingrove of the Central South Command Unit, responsible for policing Lambeth and Southwark, added: “I am shocked and saddened by this incident.
“Our thoughts are with the families and friends of the two young men who have tragically lost their lives. This incident will cause a great deal of concern throughout the local community and across London.
“We are supporting Specialist Crime detectives, who are working at pace to confirm the specific sequence of events and identify and arrest those responsible.
“Local officers are on the scene and patrolling the local area to speak to local residents, seek witnesses and provide visible reassurance.
“I would urge anyone with any information however small to come forward to help bring whoever is responsible to justice.”
Helen Hayes, Labour MP for Dulwich and West Norwood, said on Twitter : "Horrified to hear two people have been murdered in a shooting on Railton Road.
"My thoughts are with their loved ones about to hear the worst possible news and all who witnessed this violence in our community."
The latest violence means four people have been killed in two shootings in five days in the English capital, after a separate incident in Ilford, east London on Tuesday that left two men dead and a third injured.
This follows a spate of shootings in July which saw three men die in separate attacks in six days.
Before those killings, up until July 19 this year, there had been no firearms deaths in the English capital since October 31 2021.
In the whole of 2021, there were 12 fatal shootings among a total of 134 homicides recorded by the Metropolitan Police.
And in April the force said it had seen a reduction in gun crime, with the number of all shootings, including fatal and non-fatal, down from 283 in 2019/20 to 196 in 2021/22.
