A woman has revealed the “traumatic” moment a man shot a woman before killing himself in a popular Hackney park.
The Metropolitan Police responded to reports of a shooting in Clissold Park, Stoke Newington shortly after 7pm on Wednesday.
Scotland Yard said a woman in her 40s was shot and treated by medics from the London Ambulance Service and London Air Ambulance.
A man in his 40s was also treated by paramedics for gunshot wounds, but was later pronounced dead in hospital.
Police enquiries are ongoing to identify the next of kin of the man who passed away. A firearm, believed to have been involved in the shooting, was safely recovered by officers at the scene.
Authorities believe that the pair involved knew each other and the shooting is being treated as an isolated incident.
The woman has now been discharged less than 24 hours after being attacked outside the River & Green supermarket to the west of the park on Green Lanes.
One local resident, who has asked to remain anonymous, heard a loud popping sound in front of her as she strolled through the green on her way to a gym near Finsbury Park.
The witness told The Standard: “I was walking down the park towards the main road and the shop. And I was maybe 100 metres from a Fink’s coffee shop near the park gate and I heard gunshots, but they were weirdly quiet.
“I heard two or three pops and then I looked and wondered whether they were gunshots and it looked like no one was immediately reacting. I saw two people run out the park but couldn’t tell.”
Several people were then heard shouting “what are you doing?” at the man, who was wearing dark clothing, as he entered the park, leading the woman towards a group of men playing a football match.
“As soon as I get off the path I heard three more gunshots,” she said. “So at that point I didn’t know if there was an active shooter. I went towards Fink’s and someone said he had shot himself in the head. I then ran down the road asking strangers if they were a medic or doctor.
“I thought it was teenagers messing around. At the time it was eerie because it was a couple of seconds of chaos and then total silence.”
Officers in around a dozen police vehicles were joined by paramedics who attempted to resuscitate the person at the scene before being taken by ambulance to hospital.
The Clissold Park User Group said the entire park remains closed, with sources saying it will stay shut throughout Thursday.
The supermarket and nearby Dalton Melts food truck, were cordoned off as officers continue to make enquiries.
Hackney Council said it was supporting police with their investigations. Caroline Woodley, the Mayor of Hackney, said in a statement: “Such a terrible event. Thank you so much to the emergency services for the swift response. I hope the woman and all those affected have all the support they need. I will be following up to make sure. “
Forensic teams were spotted recovering items including clothing, and placing them in plastic bags. Yellow evidence markers were also placed on park’s footpath.
Detective Chief Inspector Andrea Ireland, who is leading the investigation from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, said: “We recognise the shock and distress this incident will have caused anyone present in Clissold Park yesterday evening, as well as the local community in and around Stoke Newington.
“Our thoughts remain with the victim and their family, and we continue to support them as this investigation progresses.
“The investigation is in its very early stages and we are working at pace to establish the full circumstances. We are now able to share that the man and woman involved were known to each other. We are treating this as an isolated incident and there is no wider risk to the public.
“We know there were several witnesses on the scene yesterday who are yet to come forward with information. We urge anyone who was at the scene and may be able to help us to reach out.”
Meanwhile, emergency services have shut Green Lanes between Highbury Quadrant and Riversdale Road.
Transport for London said routes 141 and 341 have been diverted in both directions via Seven Sisters Road, Amhurst Park, Stamford Hill and Stoke Newington Church Street.
Buses are not being served from Manor House Station and Portland Rise Estate to Green Lanes and Stoke Newington Church Street.
A London Ambulance Service spokesman said: “We were called at 7.09pm yesterday (September 17) to reports of a shooting at Clissold Park, Stoke Newington.
“We sent a number of resources to the scene including ambulance crews, a paramedic in a fast response car, an advanced paramedic, an incident response officer and our tactical response unit. We also dispatched two trauma teams in cars from London’s Air Ambulance.
“We treated two people at the scene and took them both to a major trauma centre as a priority.”
