A 14-year-old boy fatally shot in Woolwich, south-east London, has been identified as Eghosa Ogbebor, as police continue to appeal for witnesses following the deadly incident on Lord Warwick Street. The teenager died at the scene despite efforts by paramedics to save him, and his family has since been notified of his death by the Metropolitan Police. Authorities were called to the street in Woolwich at approximately 15:40 BST on Thursday following reports of a shooting. Three suspects — two boys aged 14 and 16, along with an 18-year-old man — have since been arrested on suspicion of murder as detectives work to establish the full circumstances surrounding the killing. Officers leading the investigation are urging anyone with knowledge of the incident to come forward, and are specifically requesting residents and drivers in the area to check their CCTV cameras and dashcam footage for anything that may assist the inquiry. The violence sent shockwaves through the surrounding neighbourhood, with customers gathered outside the nearby Greyhound pub fleeing indoors in panic after hearing gunshots ring out. Pub worker Sofia Pereira described a chaotic scene, recalling how she heard a loud bang before spotting a teenager sprint through the pub’s outdoor patio area toward Woolwich Church Street. “I just heard like a big bang — a big, strong boom — which was obviously one of the kids jumping on the wall, through the bin, and then the bin fell and broke, and he just ran off,” Pereira said. She estimated that around ten customers who had been seated on the patio rushed inside, visibly shaken and frightened. Pereira added that the atmosphere inside the pub became tense and overwhelming in the immediate aftermath. Several patrons reported seeing one of the individuals involved carrying what appeared to be a machete, prompting staff to lock the doors as confusion and fear spread throughout the venue. An 18-year-old woman who lives on Lord Warwick Street and asked not to be identified described the shooting as deeply shocking. Speaking on Friday, she said walking around her own street felt surreal and unsettling. She acknowledged that the area had seen a rise in incidents over the past few years, though the fatal shooting of a child still left her stunned. A visible police presence remained in place around Lord Warwick Street on Friday, with roughly a dozen officers stationed near a cordon that had been erected close to the scene. Forensic teams were observed searching a section of grass along the street, while a bunch of flowers had been placed at the end of the road as a tribute to the young victim. Detective Chief Inspector Lucie Card expressed condolences to Eghosa’s family and acknowledged the distress the shooting had caused across the local community. “We have already made three arrests and our investigation continues at pace,” she said, confirming that an enhanced police presence would remain in the area in the coming days.
London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan also responded to the tragedy, calling the fatal shooting of a 14-year-old boy in Woolwich appalling and heartbreaking. He stated there was no place for such violence on London’s streets and confirmed he had been in close contact with the Metropolitan Police as the investigation progressed. As the community mourns the loss of a young life, authorities continue to press for any information that could help bring those responsible to justice.
