Islington Tribune - by ROISIN GADELRAB Published: 13 June 2008
Gun victim still in hospital
A TEENAGER will begin his third week under guard in hospital today (Friday) as he recovers from gunshot wounds to his midriff inflicted in an attack in Archway. The 18 year-old was shot in an alleyway in the Girdlestone estate on May 23 and is understood to have undergone major surgery at University College Hospital, Bloomsbury, where he remained last night.
Detectives have ruled out any link to the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Sharma’arke Hassan, who was shot in the head in Camden Town the next day, but have otherwise refused to be drawn on their investigation.
Officers from Trident, the specialist unit for tackling gun crime in the black community, are leading enquiries. Two teenagers were arrested near the scene but were later released, and no further arrests have been made since.
A Met Police spokeswoman said: “The victim remains in a serious condition but he is recovering. He suffered injuries to the main body from one gunshot wound. We are not talking about if it was gang-related. We are not prepared to discuss possible motives at this time.”
The shooting shocked neighbours in the Girdlestone estate, many of whom heard the gunshot.
At the time, eyewitnesses described how, after being shot, the teenager dragged himself past six houses before climbing on to a balcony and knocked on a window for help.