A man who shot two people after forcing his way into a home in South Croydon has been jailed for life.

Zarak McKoy, 23, was found guilty of grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life after a five week trial at Croydon Crown Court.

Emergency services were called to an address in Kingsdown Avenue at about 3am on July 6, 2014, after reports shots had been fired.

A 19-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman were found suffering from a total of 16 gunshot wounds between them.

A person known to the female victim knocked at the front door earlier in the morning but she refused to let him in for fear of her own safety.

The pair had a heated argument through the locked front door before the person outside left.

Shortly after, two men came to the home with a firearm, forced their way in and shot the victim and her boyfriend in one of the bedrooms.

McKoy was identified as being involved in the shooting and was traced to an address in Mitcham where he was arrested on July 16.

The other person involved in the incident is still being sought by officers.

McKoy, of Hambrook Road, South Norwood, was sentenced at Croydon Crown Court on Friday, March 20, and will serve a minimum of 10 years of his whole life sentence.

He was found not guilty of attempted murder.

DC Peter Whibley, of trident shootings team, said: “I am pleased that McKoy has been jailed for a significant period of time. He went out that morning intent on causing fear and intimidation.

"When the victim did not open the door, he forced his way into the address and without hesitation repeatedly shot her and her boyfriend. The injuries that both victims received were significant.

“Between them they received 16 gunshot wounds. It is sheer luck that they survived these injuries."