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Ice rink murder teenager named

Chris Greenwood,Pa
Sunday 04 February 2007 20:00 EST

Police were tonight hunting a gunman who shot a teenager dead at a crowded ice rink disco.

James Andre Smarrt-Ford, 16, was shot twice during a popular Saturday night event at Streatham Ice Arena in south west London.

Detectives said the shooting took place close to the entrance of the venue but the victim's body was found on the ice nearby.

It is believed he ran there through crowds of panicking people after up to three shots were fired in a bid to escape his killer.

Superintendent Gary Richardson, leading the investigation, said the teenagers' family were in shock.

He said: "His family are devastated. He is a 16-year-old boy who has gone to the ice rink."

Mr Richardson said there were up to 300 young people aged in their late teens and early 20s at the rink when the shooting took place at about 11pm.

He said on hearing the shots the crowd "starburst" out of the nearby main entrance and on to Streatham High Road.

Speaking about the shooting, he said: "It would appear that he had been shot outside the rink and ran on to the rink and fallen over because of the injuries he has received."

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