Croydon Double Shooting ~ Family Release Statement

34yr old Darren Deslandes was brutally murdered just hours into 2010.  His brother, 26yr Junior Deslandes is in critical condition in hospital. The brothers were shot at their own parents pub after a private New Years Eve party. Their family and friends, including their 13yr old brother, witnessed the entire incident.

The police and paramedics who attended the scene have been accused of not doing all they could to help a family obviously going through emotional turmoil, and in fact, contributing to Junior’s current critical condition by failing to attend to him until almost an hour after he was shot.

Family members also take exception to The Sun Online account of the incident; they reported that the two brothers had infact, shot at each other.

*UPDATE* Numerous supporters of the family, including former Mayoral aide Lee Jasper, have been trying to contact The Sun to get them to retract their account of events. A Spokesman for the newspaper told me “We get all of our information in cases like this straight from the police” Either the sun spokesman is lying, or the police could have a serious case on their hands.

The family have released the following statement:

The Deslandes family hosted a private party to celebrate New Year’s Eve this year with extended family, friends and pub regulars, all of who were welcome to bring guests. Unfortunately, one regular patron brought his nephew with him, the man who later murdered Darren in cold blood and has left Junior fighting for his life.

The night had proceeded with festive cheer until around 4am on New Year’s Day. The Murderer was arguing with another guest who was attending the party when Junior attempted to calm the situation. The Murderer picked up a bottle to hit Junior so Darren and Junior forcibly removed him from the pub, at which point he ran to a vehicle and drove off quickly. Not liking the manner in which the Murderer ran off, Wintworth, Sr. immediately announced that the pub was closed and everyone should promptly exit the establishment in case the angry young man returned.

Before all the guests had left, and while the Deslandes family were still locking and cleaning up, the Murderer returned asking where his uncle was. Darren and Junior, with their family standing behind them, repeatedly informed him that his uncle had left and that he should go home. The Murderer then pulled out a gun. Darren and Junior attempted to grab his arms to prevent him from firing the gun on their family and pushed the Murderer to the front door where the Murderer managed to turn the gun on them and shot Darren in the head and the shoulder and Junior in the head, neck and shoulder. The Murderer fled towards the back of the pub when Wintworth, Sr. attempted to stop him with a broken bottle. The Murderer pointed the gun directly at Wintworth, Sr. and pulled the trigger but there were no more bullets, so he struck Wintworth, Sr. with the gun butt and fled out the back.

At this point, Darren had stopped breathing and Wintworth, Sr. successfully resuscitated him before rushing over to attend to Junior, who was barely breathing. Then Darren started choking on his own blood and Wintworth Sr. was unable to resuscitate him again.

Read the full statement here

According to BBC News, a 30yr old man from Sydenham has been held in connection with the shootings.

My condolences and best wishes go out to the Deslandes family.

~ by melissadelicious on January 8, 2010.