A 16-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of the murder of Lianne Gordon in Hackney on Tuesday night.
The arrest was made early on Friday morning and the suspect remains in custody,.
Gordon was shot in east Hackney on Tuesday night, with a 20-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy being rushed to hospital but have since been discharged. The Metropolitan Police have launched a murder investigation.
Detective Chief Inspector Jo Yorke, from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, is leading the investigation and said: “While this arrest marks a significant development in this investigation, I would like to reiterate my appeal for anyone with information to come forward.
Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway, responsible for policing in Hackney and Tower Hamlets, said: “This arrest demonstrates the progress the investigation is making, and I hope it gives the local community confidence in the commitment we made on Wednesday to finding those responsible for Lianne’s murder and holding them to account”.
Officers are also trying to determine if the attack is linked to shots being fired in the same road days before.
Local residents described Ms Gordon as very nice and chatty” and said she would “talk to everybody”.
If you passed by her house, “through the window she would wave and smile”, he said. “I never saw her upset, she’s always smiling – even from far away she’s always smiling and waves her hand. I am feeling very sorry for the children and the family.”
This latest report of gun crime is the 66th case in Hackney and the 258th case in the ELL boroughs since December 2022. There has been an increase of 22.8% of gun related crime in the broughs compared to the previous 12 months.
Speaking earlier Conway confirmed that the Met are considering the possibility that the shooting was “gang-linked” adding “We believe all the victims of the shooting were known to each other, but they were not related.
“You will continue to see police, both specialist and local officers, in and around the Clapton area over the coming days as this investigation continues. We also have additional officers on patrol across Hackney to provide reassurance in response to this incident, to prevent further violence and to support of our faith communities during Hanukkah. I would urge any residents with concerns to speak to my officers – they are there to assist you.”