Innocent 21-year-old gunned down outside Bristol pub

�The heartbroken mother of a man shot dead during a gun fight between warring gangs is appealing for witnesses to come forward.

Rico Gordon died after gunmen, believed to be from Brent, exchanged shots outside a pub in Bristol on July 3.

The 21-year-old, who lived in Notting Hill, was on his second visit to the city and had been at the pub after attending Bristol Carnival with his girlfriend, who lives in Bristol.

She was on the phone to him when he was shot and he died in his sister’s arms.

Rico’s devastated family and friends are struggling to come to terms with his murder and it is believed the key to finding his killer is in the borough.

Ms Gordon said: “It is believed that people in Brent have information of who could be responsible for Rico’s murder.

“It’s hard enough to have your son die before you, but to know how he was taken away makes it very hard.

“We need justice for Rico.”

Since his death, the mother-of-four said she has been touched by the tributes left to her son including a Facebook group set up in his memory.

She said: “Everyone is shocked because Rico hated violence and didn’t live that type of lifestyle.

“The pub Rico was in wasn’t the type of place he would normally go to, but he was with friends and didn’t know the area.

“I don’t want anyone taking the law into their own hands as Rico was a peaceful guy who was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Making a heartfelt appeal to anyone who knows who killed her son she said: “I believe the person who did this could do it again and I wouldn’t want another mother to go through what I’m going through.

“If you know something it will stay on your conscience.”

Det Sgt Sue Scott from Avon and Somerset Police is working closely with Operation Trident, the Met’s specialist team that probes gun crime in London, to find Rico’s killers. She said: “I would urge anyone who was in the area at the time to get in touch with us.”

Nine men have been arrested and bailed in connection with the shooting.

Anyone with information should call 0845 456 7000 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.