Triple shooting ‘has set a precedent’

Three teenagers were shot in Howard Road, Stoke Newington Photo: Dionisio Plaza

Shocked community leaders believe last month’s triple-shooting of three teenagers has set a precedent and are calling for improved security measures in the area.

The ‘ride-by’ shooting of Kieon Barker, 15, and two other 14 year-old boys on Howard Road, Stoke Newington, is the first ever on the estate, but it has changed the state of play, according to Keith Johnson of Milton Gardens Tenants’ and Residents’ Association.

Youth workers and residents agreed at a community action meeting that CCTV, metal detector wands and better lighting are now necessary to stop further attacks in and around Milton Gardens Estate.

“The premises do need to be upgraded now,” said Johnson. “They [the shooters] are acting as random as you like so you do have to take precautions and do have to take into account the safety of the young people.

“It might sound a bit extreme, but in my opinion it’s necessary, it’s for the safety of the young people as well as the people working with them and the residents,” said Johnson.

A worker at the Crib youth project, which works with 13-19 year olds in the area, said, “I walk that way with my daughter to the bus stop when I finish work. We could have easily been walking in that direction, so it isn’t just the kids it affects, it’s everybody.

“Judging by the way it’s being dealt with, it could happen again, because there’s nothing stopping them. You have to put things in action to stop these things happening,” she said.

Councillor Karen Alcock said, “Milton Gardens is a good estate. It’s had one shooting in the eight years I’ve been a councillor; it’s not a bad estate. It’s a good place to bring up children, and there are a lot of happy families on that estate.”

“I’d hope it will never happen again and I’m sure the police and the Crib and the community will make sure it doesn’t,” she said.

But Johnson said the atmosphere has darkened. “The young people have witnessed three of their friends being gunned down and bloodied in the street,” he said. “I think it hit home for them, and the residents, that the area is a bit more dangerous than they thought it was.”

At a Safer Neighbourhood meeting in Clissold ward on 11 November, Sergeant Sue Wright said that the shooting is being investigated ‘robustly’ by a team from the police’s gun crime unit, Operation Trident.

All three victims have been discharged from hospital.