Footballer's pregnant partner seeks help finding gunman

The pregnant partner of a footballer who was gunned down in front of his teammates by a masked man exactly one week ago made a tearful appeal today to find his killer.

Ryan Musgrove, 36, was shot dead by a gunman who had been hiding in bushes at the playing fields in West Wickham, south-east London, on Thursday, July 16.

Police said the gunman, wearing a mask and skiing goggles, deliberately targeted Mr Musgrove from South Norwood, south London, before fleeing the scene on a black mountain bike.

The attacker, who police estimate is between 19 and 30, emerged from the bushes at the Sparrows Den playing fields and shot at Mr Musgrove between four and six times with a semi-automatic pistol from a range of approximately 10ft. He was hit three times, once in the torso and twice in the lower body, at around 6.35pm.

The footballer, who had been holding adults' training sessions at the fields for the last month, died at the scene despite frantic attempts from his teammates at Coney Hall Football Club and passers-by to save him.

Speaking during a press conference at New Scotland Yard, beautician and make-up artist Kelly McGahan said her partner, who had two children from a previous relationship, "lived for his family".

She added they were expecting their first child together which he would now never be able to hold.

Ms McGahan, who is three months' pregnant, said: "They have ruined so many lives though what they've done and not thought about the consequences of what they have destroyed. We had so many plans together and they have been taken away."

Detective Chief Inspector John McFarlane said information gathered so far from appeals had revealed the gunman had been seen in the area twice in the days prior to the killing.

He said that on the night in question the gunman came from the woods and fled the scene in the direction of Addington.

On the Tuesday he had been seen "cruising down the path" at Sparrows Den dressed in the same attire and on the previous Thursday he was seen loitering semi-concealed around the car park of Coney Hall Football Club at the time practice would have been taking place.

He said: "We have made good progress on the movements of the gunman and the events at Sparrows Den on the evening.

"We have an enhanced description of the gunman and know a lot more about his movements from members of the public."

Mr McFarlane said police needed help in finding out more about Mr Musgrove's lifestyle and business.

He was a self-employed qualified electrician who may have been involved in a bit of debt collecting.

His attacker is described as a slim man, about 5ft 10 to 6ft, and was wearing a black balaclava-style hat and a black lightweight top with black cycling bottoms.

His face was covered by black glasses or goggles and he had a white dust mask over the lower half.

Anyone with information should call the Metropolitan Police on 020 8721 4205 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.