Problems remain 21 years after daughter shot dead

A nine-year-old girl was shot outside a restaurant in Dalston, Hackney, on Wednesday

The mother of a teenage girl killed in a drive-by shooting more than 20 years ago has said it is "very disturbing" a child was injured in similar circumstances.

A nine-year-old girl was critically injured and three men were hurt on Wednesday evening when a gun was fired from a passing motorbike in Dalston in Hackney, east London.

Marcia Shakespeare's daughter Letisha Shakespeare, 17, and Letisha's friend Charlene Ellis, 18, were killed as they left a new year party in January 2003 in Birmingham.

Speaking about the Dalston shooting, Dr Shakespeare said "innocent people are getting caught in the cross-fire".

Dr Marcia Shakespeare started a charity - the Precious Trust - to combat gun violence

She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "As soon as I heard the news I was very saddened.

“It was very disturbing to hear 21 years later we are still battling drive-by shootings and innocent young people are getting shot.

“It just brought back the memories when Letisha was shot."

Four men were jailed for the murder of Charlene Ellis (left) and Letisha Shakespeare, who were shot at a new year party in 2003

Dr Shakespeare set up the Precious Trust in the aftermath of her daughter's death, in an attempt to educate young people and ultimately reduce gun violence.

But she said the same issues remained now as then, including the drug trade and gang feuds.

She said when guns become involved it "becomes very serious" with feuds "bubbling up".

She added: "Because of what’s going on around us in the underworld, many innocent people are getting caught up [in the cross-fire]".

Crowds gathered at the site of the shooting on Wednesday night

Officers investigating the Dalston shooting were "keeping an open mind", the Met Police said.

They do not believe the injured girl and the shot men were known to each other.

Dal Babu, a former chief superintendent at the Met, told the Today programme it was "quite shocking" for a child to be caught up in a shooting.

“The very nature of drive-by shootings is indiscriminate and captures innocent people, as has been the case with this nine-year-old girl who was having a meal with her family," he said.