Student killing 'mistaken identity'

Police believe the shooting of a teenage university student fatally wounded as he sat in a car with his two brothers was a case of mistaken identity.

Joseph Burke-Monerville and his twin brother were in the back of the parked car when three shots were fired into it on Hindrey Road, Clapton, east London, on Saturday evening.

The 19-year-old, from Islington, north London, was rushed to hospital but died later, while his twin was uninjured.

Their older brother, sat in the front seat, was also shot. The 22-year-old is in a serious but stable condition in hospital.

Mr Burke-Monerville, who according to his Facebook page was studying forensic science at London Metropolitan University, and his brothers had no links to gangs, said Scotland Yard.

No arrests have been made but police said two suspects were seen running from the scene.

Detective Superintendent Gordon Allison of Operation Trident, which tackles gang-related crime, said: "As far as we're concerned, this looks like a tragic case of mistaken identity. They have parked just opposite a shop - we believe they were going to go into the shop and make a couple of purchases and then they were going to go home.

"They have been approached by the two suspects, a short conversation has taken place and as a result of that, three shots were fired into the vehicle, resulting in the fatal injury of the victim."

Officers are still trying to find a motive for the shooting. One of the two suspects is black, police said, while the second is light-skinned, possibly of Asian or Turkish appearance.

They were seen running away from Hindrey Road after the shooting towards the nearby Pembury Estate. Police are speaking to witnesses, checking CCTV and carrying out forensic examinations as part of their investigation.