Shaftesbury Avenue Shooting...

[sandyRoe]

It's not an area you'd expect to feature in a report about a fatal shooting. Is gun crime increasing in London?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-25517969

[ChillDoubt]

Is gun crime increasing in London?
---------------------------
Apparently not:

http://www.citizensreportuk.org/news/2012/06/11/london-gun-crime-offences-2006-2011/

Though given the recent furore over supposedly made-up figures, who really knows?

[FredPuli43]

How is gun crime defined? Possessing an illegal firearm? Possessing a legal firearm without a licence or permit? Carrying a firearm in a public place? Threatening someone by firearm? Shooting someone? Having a firearm in the course of burglary? Robbery by firearm? Having an lllegal imitation firearm? Using or going equipped with an imitation firearm for an illegal purpose?

It may be that records from years ago; I'm anticipating that someone will cite some; are of no use for comparison, the law on firearms and imitation firearms being so different from the past.

[emmie]

it can happen anywhere... wasn't this in a club..

[sandyRoe]

I accept that possessing a gun is a serious crime. In this case, although we only know a few facts, it seems a man went for a night out 'up West' armed and prepared to shoot. He's now facing a life sentence and there's a grieving family and a body to be buried.

[emmie]

another Christmas jolly, carrying a gun, how did the man do that in a club...
don't they have alarms that go off, bouncers on the door,

[emmie]

multiple gunshot wounds, how did he get a gun in there.


A man has died in hospital after he was shot at a private function inside a nightclub in London's West End.

The shooting happened at the Avalon club in Shaftesbury Avenue at about 03:00 GMT.

The victim, believed to be 31, suffered multiple gunshot wounds. Police believe they know the identity of the man but await formal identification.

A man has been arrested and is being questioned at a south London police station.

The next of kin of the man thought to be the victim had been informed, the Metropolitan Police said.

Shaftesbury Avenue has been closed while police investigate.

The Avalon Soho describes itself as a cocktail lounge with live DJs every night.

Its website says it is "a revitalised venue that oozes creativity and class", and which brings "a unique and stylish vibe to the heart of West End's party scene".
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