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Teenager, 16, arrested on suspicion of murder after woman shot dead in east London

Lianne Gordon was killed while boy and man suffered gunshot wounds in Hackney attack on Tuesday

Tara Cobham
Friday 08 December 2023 12:12 GMT
Woman killed and two people injured in Hackney shooting

A teenage boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a woman was shot dead in east London.

Lianne Gordon, 42, was killed in the attack in Vine Close, Hackney on Tuesday evening, while a 20-year-old man and 16-year-old boy also suffered gunshot wounds, but both have since been discharged from hospital.

The Metropolitan Police said a 16-year-old youth was detained in the early hours of Friday morning and remains in custody.

Devastated friends and neighbours later paid tribute to the “bubbly and beautiful” Ms Gordon.

Shohid Auddin, another resident of the cul-de-sac, told reporters Ms Gordon had recently come back from a holiday.

“She was very nice and chatty, she talked to us all the time,” they said. “My mum doesn’t speak English but they understood each other. She had two children – my youngest daughter was the same age as hers.

A 16-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of the murder of Lianne Gordon (pictured) (PA)

“She used to talk to everybody, I never saw her upset, she was always smiling.”

Lucinda Leadette, 68, whose family were friends with Ms Gordon, described her as “bubbly and outgoing”.

Flowers were laid outside the police cordon on Wednesday alongside a card that said: “To Lianne: Such a beautiful soul gone too soon!”

All three victims were known to each other but were not related, confirmed the Met.

Police at the scene of the fatal shooting in Vine Close, Hackney (PA Wire)

Police continue to appeal for anyone with information to come forward.

Detective Chief Inspector Jo Yorke, from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, 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.

“I have a team of dedicated and experienced officers working tirelessly to ensure Lianne’s family and friends get the answers they so desperately need; if you can help then please get in touch.”

The Met said there will be a police presence in and around the Clapton area over the coming days as it continues to investigate. The force added that additional officers will be on patrol across the whole of Hackney.

A forensic officer searching a car at the scene near Vine Close, Hackney, east London (James Weech/PA Wire)

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.

"I am extremely grateful for the support from our communities to date and this has been crucial in driving the investigation forwards. As DCI Yorke outlined, we continue to appeal for anyone with information to come forward.”

Anyone with information can call the Met’s incident room on 020 8345 3865, use 101 or message via ‘X’ @MetCC. Alternatively, they can anonymously contact the independent charity Crimestoppers, either online or by calling 0800 555 111.

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