Two days after a man was shot on a Woolwich street, police have confirmed there is still no update on his condition — he remains fighting for life in hospital.
The Metropolitan Police gave the update on Saturday, as detectives continued to appeal for witnesses to the shooting on Frances Street on Wednesday evening.
Officers were called to the street at 8.09pm on Wednesday 22 October after reports of gunfire. A man in his 30s was found with life-threatening injuries, and officers gave first aid at the scene until paramedics arrived.
He was taken to an east London hospital, where he has remained ever since. Police said on Saturday that there was no change to report on his condition.
Armed officers and a police dog unit searched the area immediately after the shooting, but no suspects were found. No arrests have been made, and police have not released a description of any suspect.
Detectives are still urging anyone who was in or around Frances Street at about 8pm on Wednesday to come forward — particularly anyone with CCTV, dashcam or doorbell footage from the area.
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101, quoting the reference CAD 6520/22OCT. Information can also be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
What happened on Wednesday evening
Frances Street was cordoned off on Wednesday night after the shooting, with a visible police presence in the area while officers secured the scene.
The first reports reached police just after 8pm, and officers arriving at the scene found the injured man and began first aid before London Ambulance Service crews reached him.
The road was held while forensic officers examined the area, and the cordon remained in place into the following morning as the investigation got under way.
Police have not released the man’s identity, and no further detail about his injuries has been given beyond that they are life-threatening.
An investigation still in its early stages
Two days on, the central facts of the case remain unchanged: a man is seriously ill in hospital, no one has been arrested, and detectives are still building a picture of what happened on Frances Street.
That is not unusual in the first days of a firearms investigation. Officers will be working through CCTV from the surrounding streets, speaking to residents and businesses, and checking whether any cameras captured the moments before or after the shooting.
The appeal for dashcam and doorbell footage matters because Frances Street sits in a busy residential area close to Woolwich town centre, where many homes and vehicles carry cameras that may have recorded something useful even if the people who own them did not realise it at the time.
Police have stressed that even small details can help — a vehicle seen leaving the area, a person acting unusually, or a sound heard around 8pm on Wednesday could all form part of the picture.
What happens next
The investigation continues, and police say they will update the public when there is something new to report. For now, the appeal remains open and the victim’s condition remains the focus of concern.
Residents in the area can expect to see officers in the coming days as enquiries continue, and anyone who has not yet spoken to police is encouraged to do so.
London Streets first reported the incident on Thursday morning, when it was still unclear whether the man had been shot, and followed it later that day when police confirmed he was fighting for life. This update reflects the latest position confirmed by police on Saturday.
Anyone with information should call 101 quoting CAD 6520/22OCT, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
