Police in fresh plea over Billy Cox killing

Last updated at 10:07 20 February 2007


Poilce today issued an appeal for

information as they try to establish

why 15-year-old Billy Cox was shot

dead at close range in his bedroom six

days ago.

Detectives can find no clear motive

and are playing down reports that he

was a member of a notorious gang or

that he was a major drug dealer.

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He had a conviction for burglary

but police say there is little in his

background to suggest the level of

criminality that could lead to a gangland-

style execution.

One source close to the inquiry said:

“At the moment the motive for this is

missing. We cannot see why anyone

would do this to a 15-year-old. Kids get

convictions for burglary and theft, but

they don’t then get shot like this.”

Today Detective Chief Superintendent

Helen Ball said: “We are asking

anyone who knew Billy who has not

yet spoken to police to contact us.”

She said police also wanted to hear

from anyone who was in the area of

Billy’s home in Fenwick Place,

Clapham, at the time of the murder

last Wednesday at about 3.30pm.

Ms Ball added: “We cannot be sure

how many suspects there were nor

how they arrived at Billy’s house. We

also need to know if anybody saw anyone

leaving the house.”

Neighbours had claimed Billy was murdered by

rival crack cocaine dealers and others

said he was killed because he was a

member of the Clap Town Kids gang.

However, police say the picture they

have of Billy is of a troubled teenager

but not someone engaged in serious

crime. He lived with his parents Tom

and Kim and his 13-year-old sister

Elizabeth, a talented ballet dancer.

He was the third teenage boy to be

shot dead in south London in 11 days.

Anyone with information should call the incident room on 020 8247 4553 or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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