The family of murdered Ricardo Cox have spoken of their anguish and made an emotional appeal for his killers to turn themselves in.

The promising 20-year-old student was gunned down as he walked back from Croydon town centre to the house he shared with his brother near Mitcham Road.

A car pulled alongside Ricardo and his brother Oniel, 22, after they had visited Kentucky Fried Chicken.

The car then sped off, turned around and pulled up next to the two men.

Three shots were fired, two of which hit Ricardo in the upper body. Paramedics tried in vain to save his life at the scene but he was pronounced dead early the next morning at St George’s Hospital in Tooting.

A post mortem examination revealed he died from a gunshot wound to the abdomen.

Yesterday Oniel described the moment.

He said: “They just shot my brother then we ran off – that’s when my brother dropped to the floor and told me to call an ambulance.”

He revealed the front passenger asked if he knew who the Bird gang was.

It is understood Bird is another name for Croydon’s largest gang Don’t Say Nothing (DSN).

However it is unclear whether the occupants in the car were looking for rival gangsters or were members of the gang.

Dion Gibbs, a close friend of Ricardo, said: “People in the area know who the DSN gang are and they haven’t been seen around Croydon since this happened.

“I think they know that someone has over stepped the mark and they are trying to distance themselves from that person.”

Police said they were looking at all avenues of investigation.

Ricardo’s aunt, Juliet Mitchell, and his brother yesterday made the plea to the murderers to “help the police” and “get up and get out of the gang before anybody else gets killed.”

Mrs Mitchell said: “Ricky had his whole life in front of him. Ricky was like a peace maker, he wanted to do everything possible to keep the family together. He’s another one gone too soon.

“The hardest thing in my life was to tell a mother her son died. It was the hardest thing in my life. I just said he’s gone, he’s gone. She was just crying and crying.

“I told her he was taken away and she was just crying. Nobody can believe it, they just said no it’s not Ricky, it’s not Ricky.

“I‘m not angry, I’m not angry any more, I only miss my nephew. I already miss him. We just miss him and want him to come back.”

Investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Damian Allain said: “Ricardo and his brother had aspirations to join the British armed services, Ricardo was a prefect at his school.

“They were good lads, not known to the police for anything. They were just going about their business trying to get something to eat.

“They are totally innocent in this and I think it is totally despicable that we have an innocent victim here as a result of gun crime.”

The front seat passenger who fired the shots is described as a light-skinned, black male aged between 18 and 20 who has short afro hair with tight curls. He was wearing a thin black jacket and spoke with a deep voice and a cockney accent.

Anyone who can assist is asked to call the incident room on 020 8721 4805; if you wish to remain anonymous please call Crimestoppers 0800 555111.