Boys aged 13 and 15 among four people shot in capital

TWO boys were among four victims of gun crime in just over 24 hours in a weekend of bloodshed in London.

A 13-year-old was shot in the head near a high street at lunchtime yesterday in Wealdstone, Harrow, north-west London, within minutes of a 15-yearold also being injured in a gun attack.

Both boys suffered head injuries and were taken to hospital, but neither was thought to be in a life-threatening condition, a Scotland Yard spokesman said. Police are investigating whether the incidents are linked.

The previous day, a 17-year-old boy was shot dead in south London. Rhyhiem Ainsworth Barton was found with critical injuries on Warham Street in Southwark on Saturday evening after officers were called to reports of gunshots shortly after 6pm.

His mother, Pretana Morgan, 38, said the teenager was not part of a gang and aspired to be an architect. She broke down as she said: “We do not need this. We cannot be doing this. Teenagers, you need to stop please.”

His death was the latest in a spate of violent crimes in the capital, where police are investigating more than 60 alleged murders this year alone.

Police were flagged down on New Cross Road in south London just before 6.30pm yesterday, and found a 22-yearold man with gunshot wounds. He was taken to hospital and his condition was not life-threatening, police said.

No arrests have been made in any of the cases.

A man was also stabbed to death in Luton yesterday afternoon. Bedfordshire Police said the 20-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene on Bishopscote Road.