Three young women who comforted a man dying from stab and gunshot wounds in south London are being sought by police as potentially vital witnesses.
Detectives say the women, aged between 18 and 21, were with Ola Raji moments after he was attacked in Peckham but disappeared before police arrived.
The 20-year-old died from a gunshot wound to the chest after he was shot at three times as he cycled through an estate near a community centre founded in memory of murdered schoolboy Damilola Taylor.
After he was shot Mr Raji was stabbed a number of times as he lay on the ground in East Surrey Grove. The two men, both described as black, fled after the attack at 10.30pm last Tuesday, and the 20-year-old died in hospital.
Witnesses said they heard what they thought were fireworks and then saw two black men running form the scene.
Three young women, who were also black, were seen with Mr Raji at the scene before police arrived.
One of the women who were seen with him appeared visibly upset. One was wearing a red jacket, another a black jacket.
Mr Raji, a former pupil at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic School in Camberwell, was found unconscious between two parked cars.
Detective Chief Inspector Will Reynolds, who is leading the murder inquiry, said: “One line of inquiry is robbery because Ola may have had a small bag or rucksack taken from him after he was shot.”
He added: “We are appealing for anyone who knew Ola or knew why he was in that area to come forward.
“We know he spoke to someone on the phone earlier and then cycled over to East Surrey Grove but we do not know why. He did not tell his family where he was going. “
After the shooting local people saw the two suspects ran past a motorist in Rosemary Road and police urged the driver to contact them.
Police are continuing to question a 24-year-old man in connection with the murder.
Anyone with information should call police on 0208 721 4205 or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
