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UPDATED: Man murdered in Thornton Heath New Year's Eve party shooting


One man was shot dead and another is fighting for his life in hospital after a gunman opened fire at a New Year's Eve party in a pub in Thornton Heath this morning.

Police were called to the Newton Arms in Queens Road, at 5am after reports of a shooting inside the pub which was hosting a private New Year's Eve party.

Police found two injured men, one aged 34 and the other aged 26, who had both been shot.

They were taken to hospital but the older man died shortly after arriving. The younger man is said by police to be in a critical but stable condition.

A post-mortem will be held tomorrow morning (January 2) at Croydon mortuary.

The gunman is described as a black man, who drove off in a dark coloured 4X4 vehicle.

Operation Trident under DCI Gordon Allison is dealing with the incident and no arrests have been made.

Police are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the incident or who saw the gunman make his getaway to help.

Anyone with information should call the incident room on 020 8247 4554 or if you wish to remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 Do you know what happened? Let us know at newsdesk@croydonguardian.co.uk

Comments(9)

Anon2468 says...
6:05pm Fri 1 Jan 10

So, he had to get his weapon out and kill someone. What a total loser!! no doubt on drugs as well.

reality-bites says...
8:19pm Fri 1 Jan 10

Par for the course in Croydon - continually living up to it's Lawless reputation.

Still, with only a 10year sentence for murder these days the fear of capture is somewhat reduced - deterent? pah!

Diamond Dee says...
3:53am Sat 2 Jan 10

Anon2468 wrote:
So, he had to get his weapon out and kill someone. What a total loser!! no doubt on drugs as well.
STOP BEING GUN HAPPY PEOPLE. WE WILL HAVE NONE LEFT. STOP FALLING INTO THIS SOCIETY WHERE GUNS ARE INVOLVED. IT'S THE DEVIL TAKING CONTROL AND GUESS WHAT, YOUR ALLOWING IT WHICH MEANS, YOUR EVIL......... GOD IS STRONGER, REMEMBER THAT!!
There was no need on New Years Day. Whoever shot these people will not rest in peace as everyone has a conchence... Whoever done this, your inside must be hollow. How does it feel to take a life of another....!! May God truly help you as these were 2 nice respectable people in the community.

shez27 says...
1:57pm Sat 2 Jan 10

Yes both two lovely young men. The family is lovely.
Not sure why the assumption the guys got shot because of drugs. I understood it to be that someone who was involved in an argument evicted from the pub came back and took his revenge. Both these guys were at work.
Who ever did this doesnt have the ability to argue intellegently but can only settle a disagreement by having the final word with a gun in their hand. A bully and a coward who may have had the last word but it doesnt make him right.

Emily C P says...
12:54am Sun 3 Jan 10

My brother from another Mother...J, my thoughts, Stu's, my family's and all of your friends from Roehampton are with you. All of us are sending you heaps of love and support. You're gona get through the other side of this. Rooting for you bro. Those of you who don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all. Please have some respect.

Love ya beau. I'll see you tomorrow buddy. xxxxxx

Andre Watkins says...
2:22pm Sun 3 Jan 10

Darren your my big cousin who always tried to keep my grounded and focused, you always had time for everyone no matter how busy your own life was. You was the man that most of us strived to be and I will forever miss you cuz. I don't know how anyone could take your life the way they did! My cousin was an upstanding gentleman and never done any wrong to attract this sort of trouble, so for those people whose comments where on assumtions of drug deals or our family pub should have been closed I think you stupid narrow minded nieve fools should really think about what your saying! My Auntie and Uncle kept it open to the regulars so that they could all see the New Year as a community and enjoy themselves as this is the selfless acts of hospitality we as a family are accostumed to, but again one careless, thoughtless, and evil creature murders my cousin and has put my other cousin in critical condition! Again no arrests have been made and so there is another murderer loose on our streets. People saw who done this some may even know him personaly, if you have an ounce of decency in you, you will come forward! My cousin is not going to die in vein! My family can never see new years day as anything but an anniversary for the morning my cousin Darren was murdered! Anyone who knows Darren and Junior will know that they are a few of a dying breed of genuine gentlemen with nothing but manners and humour. The person who done this has not just killed my cousin he has killed my familys hopes and faith in both our community and the justice system. R.I.P Darren I love you and miss you dearly Big Cuz I can see u smiling now D **** Jnr cuz you have to pull through we're all waiting to hear your voice again, your a fighter just like your big bro please pull through we miss you and need you cousin! I Love you J keep fighting on xxx

Anon2468 says...
2:02pm Mon 4 Jan 10

Diamond Dee

I think you have mis-understood my comment. Im certainly against voilence of any kind. As a christian person myself, i do understand where you are coming from.

paxton26 says...
3:45pm Mon 4 Jan 10

I use to drink in the pub, when my daughter tntroduce me to Darren, and i thought what a polite young man and would;t he make a nice son in law, and when she told me it was Darren who died my heart missed a beat, for another BLACK boy to take his life i won;t call him a man he is a ignorant and arrogant person who left a hole in those parents HEART which will never HEAL RIP DARREN from pat and kelly of south norwood

Investigations says...
4:16am Tue 5 Jan 10

If Britain wishes to continue to be a politically correct, multi-cultural society then she'll have to adjust her legal system to suit the people the cultures within her shores! I'm sure that the polygamous president of South Africa could give good advice on policing - "Shoot first," it's quick effective and much cheaper then having to look for suspects!


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