A former soldier who tried to resuscitate a young father shot dead on Christmas Eve in Shepherd's Bush has described the horrific event. 

Richard Doxford raced to the aid of Craig Brown, 20, who has a four-year-old son, after he was shot in Loftus Road at around 5pm.  Mr Doxford heard gunfire from his top-floor flat and looked out of his window to see a man lying on the ground.

He said: "I saw this fellow was down and I ran downstairs, phoning 999. When I got there I checked his vital signs - there was nothing." 

Mr Doxford started chest compressions in a bid to restart the victim's heart. 

He added: "Quite a few people had gathered and after 30 seconds I asked if anyboay could take over because I was getting exhausted." 

Two other men attempted resuscitation before paramedics arrived and took over the efforts to save the young dad. He was pronounced dead at the scene at around 5.30pm. 

The trauma for the victim's four-year-old son has been described by his great-grandmother Gladys Date, who lives within a 100 yards of the murder scene. 

She said: "Although he does not know much about what went on, he does know what happened. He said they have shot his dad. His mother is trying to cope." 

Two teenagers, aged 16 and 15, have been charged with murder.