Morden residents left shell shocked after a man is shot in broad daylight near a primary school

By Tara O’Connor, local democracy reporter

Morden locals were left shell shocked a day after a man was shot in broad daylight less than 200 metres from a primary school.

Many residents couldn’t believe that something so violent had happened in their neighbourhood, while others said they feel the area is becoming more unsafe and want to move elsewhere.

Just after 2pm on June 22 police were called to reports of a shooting in Central Road at the junction with Abbotsbury Road – a man suffering from gunshot wounds remains in a “serious condition” in hospital while two others have been arrested in connection with the incident.

It happened just outside a Sainsbury’s Local, where today police could be seen talking to residents.

Christina Tredwen has lived in Morden for 27 years and works at a Laundrette in Central Road.

Just 20 minutes after the incident Christina went to pick up one of her granddaughters from Abbotsbury Primary School. Children were kept inside for a while as police dealt with the situation.

“You could see all the worried looks on parents’ faces, my granddaughter didn’t understand, she didn’t see anything,” said Christina.

“If it had happened 20 minutes later, school kids could have got caught up in it.”

Christina has four daughters and nine grandchildren and says she worries about them, especially her 16-year-old grandson.

She said: “It is just awful, I just don’t want to live in the area any more.

“The area has changed a lot, you stand outside for 10 minutes and you can see the cars tearing down the road.”

She thinks there needs to be more police patrolling the area to deter criminals.

She added: “Everyday you’re looking at the news, how many young boys are laying in cemeteries, something needs to be done. When someone dies the whole knock-on effect is to the family who have to live with that.”

An increase in policing is something 19-year-old Shadrach Tamound thinks could help.

He works at a garage in Central Road but was at college on the day of the incident – his dad called him when it happened as he was worried.

He said: “This is a quiet area. I didn’t expect this to be honest, I’ve always felt generally safe.

“I felt a bit shocked, it was near where I live, I am pleased I was at college.”

“If there were a few more patrols around the area it could have been prevented.”

A 74-year-old woman who has lived just off Central Road for 47 years rushed out to the street when she heard gunshots – she said the area is usually quiet and was shocked that a shooting had taken place.

She said: “I heard five massive bangs and screaming, I ran out and a lady over the road was taking the man a blanket.

“The bangs were so loud, it was terrifying. We’ve never had anything like that happen before, I have never felt scared living here.”

She said around 30 police officers descended on Central Road and in the evening forensic officers in blue suits collected evidence from the scene. They left about 9pm.

A 23-year-old who has lived in the area all her life said she has seen an increase in drug dealing in the side streets off Abbotsbury Road.

She asked not to be named, and said: “We have reported the low-level drug dealing in the area and have emailed the council about it.

“Being on a street corner you find a lot of cars pulling up and drug dealing, we’ve never had anything this serious though.”

Adam, 35, who has lived off Central Road since 2017 says the incident has made him worry about the future of his children, one five-year-old and a baby.

He said: “You hear about stabbings but someone getting shot is scary, I don’t feel 100 per cent safe anymore. Who would shoot someone in broad daylight?

“If something like this happens again I definitely want to leave this area, I don’t want my children to grow up here.

“I think the council, the police, everyone needs to do more. What has caused someone to take out a gun, it can’t just be a random act.”