Sydenham: Suspect remains at large after fatal shooting in south London

What happened?

A man has died following a shooting in Sydenham, south London, on Thursday evening. The victim, aged 23, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police were called to reports of a shooting in Kirkdale at around 8.30pm. Officers found the victim suffering from gunshot wounds. Despite the best efforts of paramedics, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Who is the victim?

The victim has been identified as 23-year-old Leon Patterson. He was a local man and lived in Sydenham.

What are the police saying?

Detective Chief Inspector Richard Leonard, who is leading the investigation, said: "This is a tragic incident in which a young man has lost his life. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time.

"We are working to establish the circumstances of what happened and are appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident or who has any information to come forward."

What do we know about the suspect?

The suspect is described as a black male, around 6ft tall and of slim build. He was wearing a dark tracksuit and a baseball cap.

He was seen running from the scene of the shooting towards Sydenham Hill station.

What are the police doing?

The police have launched a murder investigation and are appealing for witnesses to come forward. A cordon has been put in place around the scene of the shooting while forensic officers carry out their investigations.

Police are also conducting house-to-house inquiries and are reviewing CCTV footage from the area.

What can I do?

If you have any information about the incident or the suspect, please contact the police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.