Scotland Yard said Ms Peart was shot through the open window of her car

Pauline Peart, 25, from Waltham Abbey, Essex, died from a single gunshot wound.

Scotland Yard said Ms Peart was shot through the open window of an Audi in Hampden Road, Tottenham, north London, at 2200 GMT on Monday.

She was sitting in the car with a friend when three men walked by, looked in and walked past.

Det Chief Insp Julian Headon of Scotland Yard's Operation Trident, which investigates gun crime within the black community, said the men then turned back.

At this stage we don't know who the intended target was Det Chief Insp Julian Headon

One put the barrel of a handgun through the open window and fired, hitting the woman.

Her friend drove Ms Peart to a nearby house where she died at 2330 GMT.

Detectives said they were keeping an open mind over the motive.

They were looking at the possibility that the killing arose from a long-standing gang rivalry.

Attempted car-jacking

Detectives have not ruled out an attempted carjacking, that her friend might have been the target or that she could have been a victim of mistaken identity.

Mr Headon said: "At this stage we don't know who the intended target was.

"It could have been something happened on the street we are unaware of or it might have been something long-standing in the past.

"It might have been something totally unconnected - it might have been somebody trying to steal the car."