A GRIEVING mother whose son was shot dead yards from his home has appealed to the black community to hand in their guns.

Lucy Buabeng, whose 24-year-old son Peter Buahin was murdered in July 2005, made the call after the recent shootings across south London.

The killings have left three teenagers and one man dead.

They are being investigated by the Met Police's Operation Trident, which deals with killings affecting the black community.

Now Mrs Buabeng, of Woodpecker Road, New Cross, has made an emotional appeal, calling on the black community to stand united and stop senselessly killing one another.

She said: "This gang culture has got to stop. Put your guns down. Hand your guns in. It's not doing any good.

"Nobody can sort this mess out, apart from us.

"We, the black community, are the victims and the offenders.

"Our children are needlessly killing each other."

The 53-year-old says she has lived in "perpetual agony" since her son, a father-of-one, was shot in the head as he sat on a bicycle yards from his home.

Paramedics tried to save him but he died at the scene.

Earlier that evening, youths had been seen around the Woodpecker estate on bikes, three of which were later abandoned at the murder scene.

Police arrested three 22-year-old black youths following the killing but all were later released without charge.

Despite countless appeals, the murder still remains unsolved.

According to investigating officer Detective Inspector Geoff Whitehouse, this is a common scenario with Operation Trident killings.

He said: "There will be people who know something about Peter's death who have not yet come forward.

"Either they have chosen not to talk to police out of fear, or because of loyalty to the wrong people."

Mrs Buabeng says she can empathise with the families of the youngsters killed in the latest round of shootings.

James Andre Smartt-Ford, aged 16, was shot dead at Streatham Ice Arena on February 3.

This was followed by the shootings of 15-year-old Michael Dosunmu - shot at a flat in Peckham on February 6 - and Billy Cox, 15, shot dead in his Clapham North home on February 14.

Chamberlain Igwemba, 47, died on February 4 after being shot at a Peckham flat.

All were black, apart from Billy, who was of mixed race.

Mrs Buabeng said: "It's tragic. No family should have to go through this.

"My heart goes out to the parents of these youths. I know what they are going through.

"They are going to suffer but they should know they are not alone.

"I have lived my life in perpetual agony since Peter's death."

Mrs Buabeng says one problem facing many black youths is the absence of a strong father figure to guide them away from a life of guns and violence.

Peter's father, Peter senior, died of sickle cell syndrome in 1993.

Peter went on to serve a prison sentence for robbery but was getting his life together at the time of his murder.

Since the recent spree of shootings, the Met has launched a temporary task force to crack down on gun violence across south London.

This will include high-visibility policing in hot spots and more intelligence-led armed interventions.

Anyone with information about any of the killings should call Operation Trident on 020 8247 4553 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.