A 29-year-old father from West Norwood was gunned down outside a block of flats in south London during a row with his attacker.

Norman Francis died after being shot in the thigh and chest at point blank range during the argument at a block of flats in Woolwich on Monday (October 15).

Mr Francis, a regular visitor to the flats where his part-ner and 11-month-old child live, was attacked just after 10pm.

Police believe a dispute had taken place between the victim and suspect. Officers arrived just before 10.30pm where they found the victim dead.

DCI Duncan Wilson, from the Met's Yardie-tackling crime unit Operation Trident, said that although the incident was being treated as a gun crime, people should not jump to conclusions about the victim's background.

He said: "I do not want Mr Francis' character besmirched.

"We are working closely with the family and I assure anyone in the local community who may have information, that we will treat their call in the strictest confidence."

Detectives are appealing for friends of Mr Francis in Croydon to help them create a clear picture of the dead man's life.

DCI Wilson added: "We want to hear from anyone who knew Mr Francis who might have information about his life which would indicate why he was the victim of such a violent at-tack."

Police do not yet know whether the gunman was known to Mr Francis.

A 5ft 10ins black man, aged around 22yrs, was seen leaving the scene outside the block of flats just after the shooting. He was wearing a dark top and trousers, a base-ball cap and white Nike trainers.

CCTV footage on the estate showing pictures directly after the attack are also being studied.

Mr Francis lived alone in West Norwood and spent a lot of his time visiting his child and partner in Woolwich.

Although he was unemployed, he was due to start a new job as a trainee estate agent.

The victim's parents, Nellie and Ezra Francis, who live in Plumstead, have joined police in appealing for information about their son's death.

They said the whole family is deeply traumatised by the incident.

Anyone with information should call the incident room on 020 8785 8056 or Crimestoppers, free and anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

October 26, 2001 15:30