SENIOR police officers were holding talks today after a third teenager was shot dead in south London in less than a fortnight.

The latest murder happened yesterday afternoon, when a 15-year-old boy, named locally as Billy Cox, was gunned down in his own home in the Clapham North area.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair was today meeting officers from the Met's Specialist Crime Directorate - which includes Operation Trident, tasked with investigating gun crime in London's black community.

A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said the probe would be taken over by Operation Trident, adding: "Not because the victim is black, but because it is a shooting."

The latest death follows the murder of churchgoing Michael Dosunmu, also 15, who was shot in his bedroom in Peckham last Tuesday.

Days before, James Andre Smartt-Ford, 16, was shot and killed at an ice rink in Streatham.

The latest shooting will fuel the perception that gun culture among south London's teenagers is spiralling out of control.

The most recent victim is thought to have been deliberately targeted.

Officers were called to the 15-year-old's house just after 3.40pm, where they found him with a gunshot wound. He had been discovered by a family member.

There are understood to be no signs of forced entry and it is likely the 15-year-old - who has yet to be named by police - knew his attackers.

Detectives are investigating whether the shooting was the result of a row or some kind of feud or local dispute.

The boy, who was pronounced dead at the scene - is believed to be of mixed race, with a white father and a Thai mother.

Police will look to see if there are any links between this latest shooting, Michael's Dosunmu's murder - which is believed to have been a case of mistaken identity - and the death of James Andre Smartt-Ford.

At the moment there is no apparent connection, according to sources.

In a statement, Scotland Yard said: "We must retain an open mind as to any potential motive."

The force said gun crime in London was continuing to fall despite the latest shooting.

Neighbours of the latest victim, who lived near the Fenwick Estate, said they were "shocked".

Christina Piludu said: "He was a good boy. He always respected all of us."