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Teenager shot by gang while holding baby

Tom Morgan
Saturday 01 October 2011 00:00 BST

A teenager was shot in a London street while she held her 11-month-old son in her arms.

Jessica Chrichlow, 18, collapsed to the ground alongside two sisters – named locally as Sammy, 17, and Alex, 19 – when all three were caught in the crossfire during a botched gangland attack on Thursday night, witnesses said. Sammy has been discharged from hospital while the other two victims remain in a stable condition.

Police said it was "hugely fortunate" that the baby escaped injury. Detective Chief Inspector Mick Foote said: "It was a random, reckless act and we are fortunate we are not dealing with a fatal shooting here."

The three victims had been enjoying the warm weather in John Fearon Walk, North Kensington, west London, when the attacker got off a bike and screamed "mother fucker" at the group, according to a neighbour.

Police said the child may have been missed by inches as the bullet hit his mother. Det Ch Insp Foote added: "I do not believe the girls were the intended targets."

A search was launched last night for several young men seen on bicycles on the west London housing estate.

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