A MAN shot dead in West Wickham by a masked man yesterday (July 16) was the manager at a local football club.
Ryan Musgrove was reportedly shot twice on Sparrows Den playing fields in Addington Road at around 6.30pm.
It is understood the 36-year-old from Croydon was about to take Coney Hall Football Club’s pre-season training.
A statement on the club’s website states: “The thoughts of everyone within the club are with Ryan’s family to whom we send our heartfelt condolences.
“The circumstances surrounding his death are the subject of a police investigation and the club will not make comment upon them or contribute to any speculation in this regard.
“Ryan will be remembered at the club as a huge personality and as a great football man who has made great strides in improving the Senior Section at Coney Hall during the past two seasons. He is missed.”
The football club say Mr Musgrove was their first-team manager.
A large section of Sparrows Den playing field, popular with dog walkers, remains behind a police cordon today, along with a patch of long grass in neighbouring Spring Park.
One dog walker who lives nearby told News Shopper he saw a police helicopter and air ambulance circling the scene last night.
A cyclist, who did not want to be named, said he was passing the scene and saw an off-duty police officer trying to resuscitate Mr Musgrove.
He said: “You could see he was already gone. I thought he had had a heart attack at first.
“It took around 10 minutes for armed police to get to the scene. The ambulance crew told me they would not attend the scene until the police had arrived.”
Police officers say Mr Musgrove was pronounced dead at the scene at 7.16pm and confirmed they have yet to make any arrests in connection with the shooting.
A post-mortem examination will take place at 3.30pm today (July 17) at the Princess Royal Hospital in Farnborough.
A police spokesman added: “At this stage it is believed the suspect was waiting nearby and rode off on a mountain bike after the shooting.
“He was wearing a balaclava and mask over his face.”
The murder is being investigated by the homicide and serious crime command, led by Detective Chief Inspector John McFarlane.
Anyone with any information should call 020 8721 4205 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
Did you see what happened or did you know the man involved? Call the newsroom on 01689 885732.
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