Six people including a 7-year-old girl with life-threatening wounds were injured in a shooting outside a London church Saturday after a double funeral for a mother and daughter — and just as doves were going to be released, according to police and reports.
Three women, ages 48, 54 and 41, were taken to a London hospital with the 48-year-old’s injuries described as “potentially life changing,” police said.
A 21-year-old woman was also taken to a central London hospital and there was no update on her condition. A 12-year-old was treated and released from a hospital with a minor leg injury, police said.
The attack happened in the early afternoon during a funeral at St Aloysius R.C. Church, near the Euston train station, the BBC reported.
Medics from the London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance responded, police said.
“Any shooting incident is unacceptable, but for multiple people, including two children, to be injured in a shooting in the middle of a Saturday afternoon is shocking,” said Metropolitan Police Superintendent Ed Wells. “Our thoughts are with all the victims, but in particular with the 7-year-old girl who is in a life-threatening condition and with her family.”
The drive-by shooting was said to have taken place outside the church, where funeral services were being held for a mother and her 20-year-old daughter, according to the Daily Mail.
Police responded to reports shots were fired from a moving vehicle. Simon Lamrock
Police remained on the scene outside St Aloysius Church after dark. REUTERS
The shooting reportedly occurred outside the funeral of Fresia and Sara Sanchez. Gofundme.com / Sara Sanchez“When the service finished, we were outside to see the flying of doves. A black car came and started to (shoot) bullets. It was chaotic,” Jaouida Ifghallal told the website MyLondon.
In early January, the website wrote about the mom, Fresia Calderon, 50, and her daughter, Sara Sanchez, 20, who had battled leukemia for three years.
Calderon died of a pulmonary embolism in November after a flight from Colombia to London. She collapsed in front of Sanchez and her son.
Sanchez had traveled to Colombia to see family and friends after an experimental cancer treatment was not successful, according to MyLondon.
“Fresia’s unexpected passing hurt Sara beyond repair. Sara gave up all hope for her future and lost the drive to fight cancer. She also refused chemotherapy which would lengthen her days. On Nov. 30, at 17:13pm, surrounded by those she loved the most Sara sadly took her last breath,” a family member told the website.
London police asked anyone who had witnessed the shooting to call them.
“An urgent investigation is under way and details of the incident are still emerging. At this early stage there have been no arrests,” London Metropolitan Police said in a statement.
