A MAN was shot dead in a suspected drive-by shooting in the busy rush hour traffic, in Cricklewood this morning, writes Kate Ferguson and Andrew Cheng. The victim, in his 50 s and thought to be a builder of Eastern European origin, was shot repeatedl

A MAN was shot dead in a suspected drive-by shooting in the busy rush hour traffic, in Cricklewood this morning, writes Kate Ferguson and Andrew Cheng.

The victim, in his 50's and thought to be a builder of Eastern European origin, was shot repeatedly as he sat in his car outside his home, in Garth Road, shortly before 8.30am this morning.

Witnesses said they saw the man slumped in a pool of blood in the driver's seat of his car.

The window had been shattered and glass was littered on the floor.

A forensics tent has been erected on the site, and the area is cordoned off to the public.

Armed police, helicopters and paramedics arrived on the busy A Road, near Cricklewood Broadway.

Chay Lawrence, 20, a next door neighbour of the victim in Garth Road, was on the scene shortly after the shooting.

He said he was leaving his house for work, when he heard builders working on a nearby house shout out. He ran out, and saw the deceased's van rolling down Garth Road, into Hendon Way.

He said: "I was coming out of my house to go to work and I saw the man's work van in the middle of the road.

"The driver's window had been smashed and there was blood on the driver's seat.

"The builders took him out of his van, he wasn't moving or breathing.

"There was an ambulance man. He opened the man's shirt and put the heart monitor on his chest. He was working on him for almost 15 minutes, but all that time he wasn't breathing."

He said the victim was a quiet family man who moved to the road with his wife and young daughter about a year and a half ago. He is thought to work as a builder.

Mr Lawrence said there was nothing suspicious or out of the ordinary with the man.

Witnesses said they spotted a man wearing a baseball cap with dark glasses speeding away from the scene in a blue Nissan car. It is not known whether he is a suspect.

Another neighbour, Emelia Meyrick, 46, who has a young daughter, said: "I heard a bang, but wasn't sure what it was at the time. I thought it must have been a road traffic accident.

"I heard helicopters zooming overhead at around 9 o'clock this morning. It is scary to hear what has happened. I didn't want to leave the house with my children this morning because of all the police.

A police spokesman said: "Police were called to reports of a man shot on Hendon Way near the junction with Garth Road.

"Officers, London Ambulance Service and the air ambulance are in attendance and a man, believed aged approx. in his 50s has been found suffering multiple gunshot wounds.

"Any witnesses or anyone with any information can call the Metropolitan Police Service on 0300 123 1212 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

"There have been no arrests at this time.