Teens Shot for Their iPods

Two brothers, aged 18 and 19, were outside a McDonald's in Neasden, North West London, on Saturday night socializing with three friends when they were approached by five younger individuals. The gang demanded their iPods and cell phones, pulling a gun on them in the process. The two brothers were shot  after “a verbal confrontation took place between them,” according to Detective Inspector Mick Millar.

Inspector Millar added that “the suspects were aggressive towards the victims and attempted to rob them. One suspect produced a handgun and fired several shots at the victims from a close proximity. All five suspects then made off, two on bicycles, one of which is described as a red BMX style bike.”

The two victims were each shot multiple times. One was hit in the stomach, leg, groin and arm and the other was wounded in the chest and stomach, the police said.

"This was a completely unprovoked attack on two individuals who were out enjoying their Saturday evening with their friends,” said Millar. "I believe there would have been a number of people out on the night, and I urge the [sic] to come forward and speak to us if they have any information."

Two suspects were arrested during dawn raids at separate addresses in Brent after the shooting. They remained in custody at a West London police station, according to The Independent. Fortunately, neighbors close to the scene who heard several shots being fired may provide additional information that can prove useful in finding the rest of the attackers.

One witness told London paper, the Evening Standard, "I heard them – crack, crack, crack, crack, crack. They could have been fireworks, but then I heard a man screaming and shouting. I realised there had been a shooting. I ran out and saw two guys there.”

The person continued, explaining that "One of them was lying on the pavement, apparently unconscious. The other was clutching his stomach where he had been shot. I didn't see any blood. I didn't want to get that close in case the gunfight was still going on.”

Coincidentally, one of the victims appeared to have received a phone call during the attack. It is believed that the person calling was actually the mother, who reportedly appeared on the scene in ten minutes. “She was freaking out and screaming," according to the same witness.