It happened on Bonfire Night, and man is in hospital with serious injuries with a large crime scene is in place.
May was working nearby at an internet cafe on Peckham High Street when she heard three or four popping sounds at around 6.45pm.
She said: “It was quite loud. I thought it was fireworks. And then when I went outside they said, shooting.
‘Flesh flew out of leg’ during shooting in busy Peckham square
“I just heard popping and then while I was sweeping police were covering the area with tape.
“I thought it was a stabbing, because stabbings are usually happening.
“But when they said shooting, I was like, wow. I’ve never known something like this to happen.”
The owner of a phone shop directly opposite the crime scene also heard the bangs – but did not realise they were gunshots.
The man, who asked not to be named, said: “I was open at the time but there were so many fireworks.
“I was busy with a customer when someone came up to me and asked, ‘what happened there?’
“When I looked there was a lot of police. And later on I realised somebody got shot.
LIVE as crime scene in place after shooting outside south east London library
“I didn’t even notice because of the fireworks.”
Norali Reza, works at a grocery shop on Peckham Hill Street, across from the library and scene of the shooting.
He was told there had been an incident outside his shop and rushed to the scene.
Norali said: “It was the evening and someone from the other side called me, asking what happened next to your shop.
“And when I came, there was a lot of police.
“My reaction was no good because I don’t want to see things like that happen because we are human. We should be sweet and nice to each other.
“Everyone is surprised. When people come in and ask me, they are just shocked.
“We don’t want to see this, it makes us feel unsafe.
“I am running a business here, so it makes me feel a little bit worried.”
