THE shooting of a 24-year-old man could have been a case of mistaken identity, neighbours say.

Officers were called to Ludwick Mews in New Cross at 1.30am on Tuesday to discover Nathan Williams in a VW Golf suffering from gunshot wounds.

An ambulance took Mr Williams, of Kennington, to a south London hospital but he was pronounced dead at 2.11am.

Filiz Salih, aged 52, said she and her husband had woken up after hearing a loud noise.

She said “We thought something had happened so we jumped out of bed, ran to the living room and heard someone calling the police.”

Mrs Salih said Mr Williams’ girlfriend was screaming: “They’ve shot my baby, they’ve shot my baby.”

She said the 24-year-old was picking up his girlfriend from her grandfather’s house when he was shot.

And another neighbour, who did not want to be named, said Mr Williams had been shot after being mistaken for someone in a similar car who had earlier argued with a group of men.

News Shopper: Tributes have been left at the scene Flowers were left at the scene today (July 30) paying tribute to Mr Williams.

One read: "To my angel, I really don't understand why you had to go.

"You were so special to me in so many ways. I love you Nath and always will."

Neighbours said police cars and a helicopter were called to the scene and officers knocked on doors at around 2am to pursue their inquiries.

One 68-year-old resident, who did not want to be named, said he had been woken at 2.20am. He said: “I’m never surprised around here.

“We’ve had a lot of killings over the past few years and you wonder why people are moving out.

“You just have to take a chance if you live here.”

Another neighbour said: “It’s like the Wild West.

“For normal people it’s really scary. I’ve been asking the police to put CCTV here.

“It’s alright the police coming here when it happens but where were they before it happened?”

Mrs Salih said there had been a series of shootings in the area over the past three years.

She said: “It’s like an everyday occurrence so we’re used to it.

“CCTV would be a good idea but nothing gets done anyway whatever you ask for.”

Police are looking for four men in connection with the incident.

A Met police spokesman said: “We’re keeping an open mind as to the motive.”

No arrests have been made.

Any witnesses or anyone with information should call 020 8247 4554 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.