A 22-YEAR-OLD man shot dead while celebrating with friends at a night club on Saturday night was named today.

Arian Julius Arthur, of Nelson Row in Clapham, south west London, was in the basement of The Jam club in Shoreditch, east London, when a fight broke out and a gun was drawn.

DCI Scott Wilson, of the Metropolitan Police, said: "The shooting took place within the basement of The Jam, on Shoreditch High Street at the junction with Old Street.

"We believe between 30 and 50 people were inside the club at the time. The victim was with a group of five or six friends celebrating a friend's birthday in the basement of the club.

"We believe there was an altercation, which resulted in the victim being shot."

Police were called to the club at about 5.30am on November 18.

The London Ambulance Service also attended and rushed Mr Arthur to the Royal London Hospital but he died shortly after arrival.

A post mortem examination was carried out yesterday at Poplar mortuary.

Detectives from the Trident unit of the Metropolitan Police, which probes crime in afro-caribbean communities, have launched a murder investigation following the shooting.

DCI Wilson, appealing for the public's help in tracing the suspect, added: "We are appealing for any witnesses inside the club or anyone who was passing the venue, which is on a busy junction, to come forward so we can piece together the events of that night.

"The suspect, a black man, was seen leaving hurriedly and we are also appealing to anyone who may have seen him".

Anyone with information is asked to call the Trident incident room on 0208 733 4704 or to remain anonymous contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.