“They thought they killed a nobody – but my son was somebody,” mourns mother of 27-year-old shot dead on his Balham doorstep as cops search for getaway car

A traumatised and stunned mother is searching for answers – and justice – after her son was shot dead on his doorstep.

Vina Poleon’s son Matthias, 27, was brutally gunned down last week as he left his home in Bedford Hill, Balham.

Matthias, who had post-traumatic stress disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, died in hospital about 40 minutes after the shooting.

Grandmother and mother of five, Vina said: “They really thought they killed a no one. But they killed a someone.

“That boy was my last born, my baby. He will always be my baby. He will always belong to me. But they stole him from me. He is not breathing any more – he’s gone.

“I have to be strong. But imagine if someone killed your son. It is the most awful thing ever. I can’t breathe. I am dying inside.

“Matthias was loved beyond words. You just have to see the tributes to him.

“If he had been a rubbish person, people would not be like this. They cannot believe he is dead. All I keep hearing is how much he was loved. A friend called by, just to tell me ‘I loved your son’.

“He was known in Balham for singing wherever he went along the road.

“He was a hugger. He hugged my friends, he hugged his two sisters. Even if you are not a hugger, he forced you to hug.

“Who is going to hug me now? I would give up my life for that boy. If I could swap places with him I would. That is how much he means to me. And he’s gone. Now I have to figure out how to stay alive.

“We are not coping. But I have to be there for his two brothers and two sisters and his friends.”

Detectives investigating the fatal shooting are appealing for information.

The investigation team has issued an image of a grey coloured Volkswagen Golf seen in the area around the time of the incident and are keen to hear from anyone who has footage or information relating to the vehicle.

Detective Chief Inspector Katherine Goodwin is leading the investigation. She said: “I implore anyone who saw this vehicle in the area around the time of the incident to contact us, no matter how insignificant your information may seem, please get in touch, it could be vital to our investigation.

“Matthias was at his front door when he was shot. Friends and members of the public rushed to help him, as his killers fled the scene in a VW Golf that we believe to be the vehicle pictured.

“Matthias’s family are at the beginning of an incredible ordeal. Think of their grieving, think of their suffering, and please do the right thing and tell police what you know.

“Anyone who has information but is reluctant to share it with police should consider that the people who committed this murder are violent criminals who have ended a man’s life and devastated a family. It is vital that they are apprehended.

“If you don’t want to speak directly to us, Crimestoppers is 100% anonymous and you won’t even be asked for your name – it doesn’t matter how you do it, but please do make the call.”

Police were called at approximately 10.50pm on Thursday, 17 June to reports of a man suffering gunshot injuries in Bedford Hill.

Officers and paramedics found Matthias, who was taken to hospital for treatment; despite the best efforts of the emergency services he was pronounced dead at 11.36pm.

Enquiries into the circumstances remain ongoing and there have been no arrests.

Anyone with information should call the incident room on 0208 785 8244 or tweet @MetCC quoting 8915/17June.

Or you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org.

A fundraiser in memory of Matthias is here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/matthias-poleon-funeral-fund?utm_campaign=p_cp_display&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer