A seven-year-old girl is fighting for her life in hospital and five others were injured in a drive-by shooting outside a funeral for a British-Colombian cancer victim and her mother in north London today.
Horrified witnesses revealed they had to run for over as a black car pulled up and ‘started shooting bullets’ out of nowhere outside St Aloysius church on Phoenix Road opposite Euston railway station at 1.30pm.
Victims were attending the funeral service of Fresia Calderon, 50, and her daughter, Sara Sanchez, 20, who died within a month of each other in November.
Met Police confirmed this evening six people in total were injured in the attack; four women aged 21, 41, 48 and 54, along with two children aged 12 and seven.
The seven-year-old girl ‘remains in hospital in a life threatening condition’ after she was rushed to a hospital with a major trauma centre as a priority.
Police forensic officers remain on the scene this evening amid an ongoing investigation
Single mum Fresia Calderon and her daughter Sara Sanchez died within a month of each other
The 12-year-old girl was discharged from hospital after receiving treatment for a minor leg injury sustained in the incident.
The adult victims – aged 48, 54 and 41 – were taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries, though police said the 48-year-old suffered potentially ‘life-changing’ trauma. A condition report is pending on the 21-year-old woman.
Witnesses told MyLondon they were fired upon as they went outside to watch the flying of doves after the service. They ran for cover as a black car pulled up, seemingly out of nowhere, and ‘started shooting bullets’.
‘It was chaos. It was horrible. No one knew if it was a bomb or gunman,’ one said.
‘We were looking for places to hide. We all just snuggled into corners where we could. We left after about 10 minutes, I did not dare [leave before]. It was not nice.’
Police are pictured at the scene of a shooting outside a funeral on Phoenix Road, next to Euston railway station
Police responded to reports shots were fired from a moving vehicle, during a funeral at St Aloysius
Fresia Calderon (pictured) died after suffering a pulmonary embolism after she arrived to Heathrow from Colombia on November 5
It is not yet clear how the victims knew the mother and daughter duo whose funerals they were attending, or why the funeral service was targeted.
Fresia Calderon died after suffering a pulmonary embolism after she arrived to Heathrow from Colombia on November 5.
Her daughter Sara Sanchez, who had been diagnosed with leukaemia three years ago, succumbed 25 days later after ‘giving up all hope’, according to a family member.
Sara was diagnosed with leukaemia in May 2020 and after six months of chemotherapy experienced two years in remission. She relapsed in July 2021 and required a bone marrow transplant.
It was her mother who instilled hope that she would recover on days when she otherwise felt like giving up. So after Fresia’s sudden and unexpected death, relatives say she struggled to carry on.
Single mum Fresia Calderon and her daughter Sara Sanchez died within a month of each other
It was Sara’s mother who instilled hope that she would recover on days when she otherwise felt like giving up. So after Fresia’s (pictured) sudden and unexpected death, relatives say she struggled to carry on
When emergency services arrived at the scene this afternoon, they found the victims suffering bullet wounds on a small side street near Euston station.
Detectives remain on the scene as of Saturday night as investigations get underway.
They’re now appealing for witnesses to come forward to assist in the investigation.
Superintendent Ed Wells said: ‘Any shooting incident is unacceptable, but for multiple people, including two children, to be injured in a shooting in the middle of a Saturday afternoon is shocking.
‘Our thoughts are with all the victims, but in particular with the seven-year-old girl who is in a life threatening condition and with her family.
‘An investigation into this dreadful attack is already well under way involving local officers and specialist detectives. I can assure the communities of Camden and beyond that we will do everything we possibly can to identify and bring to justice those who were responsible.
‘Local residents can expect to see an increased visible police presence in the area through the weekend and into the days ahead as we progress this investigation.’
All four sustained gunshot wounds when unidentified perpetrators performed a drive-by shooting outside St Aloysius church (pictured) on Phoenix Road
The Met released a statement claiming initial enquiries suggest the shots were fired from a moving vehicle which quickly fled the scene
Father Jeremy Trood, who conducted the service at St Aloysius church, said: ‘I heard a big bang and police are in the church at moment. People who were leaving the church have rushed back in.’
He described the ceremony as a ‘Requiem Mass’ rather than a funeral.
Labour leader Keir Starmer issued a tribute to the victims on Twitter this evening, stating: ‘I am deeply shocked by the shooting in Euston and want to thank the emergency services for their response. My thoughts are with the victims.’
And London Mayor Sadiq Khan also spoke out about the ‘deeply distressing’ attacks.
Mr Khan said: ‘This is a deeply distressing incident and my thoughts are with those who were injured and their families.
‘A police investigation is now under way and I am in close contact with the Met Police to determine what happened.’
The Met released a statement claiming initial enquiries suggest the shots were fired from a moving vehicle which quickly fled the scene.
Officers initially said a seven-year-old and three women were hurt but later updated this as it emerged six people in total had sustained injuries.
‘There is a significant police presence in the area. An urgent investigation is underway and details of the incident are still emerging,’ the statement read.
‘At this early stage there have been no arrests.’
It is not yet clear how the victims knew the mother and daughter duo whose funerals they were attending, or why the funeral service was targeted
The Met released a statement claiming initial enquiries suggest the shots were fired from a moving vehicle which quickly fled the scene
A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: ‘We sent three ambulance crews, five paramedics in fast response cars, an advanced paramedic and two incident response officers to the scene.
‘We also dispatched London’s Air Ambulance. The first paramedic arrived in around five minutes.
‘We treated four people at the scene, one of whom was seriously injured and was taken to a major trauma centre, as a priority. The others were taken to hospital.’
Police cordons have been established in the area surrounding the church, and traffic is slow moving.
Bus routes have been placed on diversion. Motorists travelling through the area have been warned of a significant police presence, and to expect delays.
Anyone who witnessed the incident or who has information about what took place should call 101, giving the reference 3357/14JAN.
Information can also be provided to Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Police cordons have been established in the area surrounding the church, and traffic is slow moving in the area
Bus routes have been placed on diversion. Motorists travelling through the area have been warned of a significant police presence, and to expect delays
