Dad describes ‘shootout’ close to East Finchley nursery
Police investigating an alleged shooting in Simms Gardens, East Finchley - Credit: Archant
A father has described a “shootout” outside his East Finchley home which is believed to have left a man injured.
Armed police were called to Simms Gardens shortly after 4.30pm yesterday (Monday), but officers were unable to locate the victim.
The scene is currently cordoned off, and a SureStart nursery school in the street is closed as detectives investigate.
Neighbour Dominic Almeida described how he and his one-and-a-half year old son were lucky not to be caught in the gunfire after arriving home shortly before it happened.
He told the Ham&High: “I was cleaning the bathroom when I heard the shooutout.
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“At first I thought it was fireworks, I heard one shot first and then two or three quickly afterwards.
“It was all over in 10 seconds.
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“Before that I’d heard someone screaming.”
He said he went outside and saw two bikes in the road, one of which was picked up.
“I saw a black guy wearing a hoodie grab the bike and run off,” Mr Almeida said.
He continued: “I’ve never heard of something like this happening before, it’s usually quite safe.
“Over the past three or four days I’ve seen lots of kids who I haven’t seen here before.
“If I was any later in arriving back home, my son and I could have been caught in the gunfire.”
A witness told police they had seen a man with a shoulder injury.
The ‘shot’ man is described as black, wearing a dark blue/black jacket and jeans.
A Met Police spokesman said: “Officers are keen to trace him as he may require urgent medical treatment.”
No arrests have been made.
Anyone with information has been urged to call police on 101.
