Two teenage girls shot dead in Aston

Two teenage girls have been shot dead outside a party in Aston, in an attack that has shocked Birmingham and the whole country.

Letisha Shakespeare, 17, and Charlene Ellis, 18, were killed in the early hours of 2 January as they left a New Year party at a hair salon on Birchfield Road. Three other young people, including Charlene's twin sister, were injured.

Innocent victims

The girls were best friends and were described by their families as bright, fun-loving young women with their whole lives ahead of them. Police have said they were entirely innocent victims, caught in a hail of bullets fired from a passing car.

Detectives believe the gunmen used a sub-machine gun, and that dozens of shots were fired. Officers are investigating whether the attack was linked to rivalry between criminal gangs in the area.

Police have launched a major murder inquiry and appealed for anyone with information to come forward. Officers have stressed that people can pass on information anonymously if they are afraid.

A city in mourning

The killings have caused grief and anger across Birmingham. Flowers and messages have been left at the scene, and hundreds of people have attended vigils in memory of the girls.

Community and church leaders have called for an end to gun crime and urged people to help the police bring those responsible to justice. Many residents say they are tired of the violence that has affected parts of the city in recent years, and fear for the safety of their children.

The families of the two girls have made emotional appeals for witnesses, saying they want the killers caught so that no other family has to go through the same pain.

A national debate

The shooting has prompted a national debate about gun crime, and the Home Secretary, David Blunkett, has promised tougher action on illegal firearms. Politicians have called for longer sentences for people caught carrying guns, and for more to be done to tackle the gangs behind the violence.

Police chiefs say that illegal weapons are becoming easier to get hold of, and that young people are being drawn into a culture where guns are seen as a status symbol.

Working together

Community groups in Aston, Handsworth and Lozells have been working with the police for some time to tackle gang violence and to offer young people alternatives. They say the killings must be a turning point.

Youth workers say it is vital to reach young people before they become involved with gangs, and have called for more money for youth clubs, mentoring and training schemes in the inner city.

Police have increased patrols in the area to reassure residents. Senior officers have promised to use every resource available to find the killers.

For the families of Letisha and Charlene, and for their friends and neighbours, the loss is devastating. The city is united in its hope that justice will be done.