A man has been shot dead at a memorial service in west London where dozens of people, including children, had gathered to remember somebody else. The Metropolitan Police were called to the junction of Braybrook Street and Erconwald Street in East Acton at 19:47 GMT on Friday night after members of the public reported hearing multiple shots.
Officers arrived alongside the London Ambulance Service, but the 40-year-old victim was pronounced dead at the scene despite the efforts of medics. A murder investigation is now under way and a police cordon remains in place across Braybrook Street.
A memorial service turned to chaos
Detective Chief Inspector Brian Howie, who is leading the investigation, said between 40 and 50 people were present, including children, when the shooting occurred. Police said the man died in what they described as a senseless act of violence.
Mr Howie said: “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of a man whose life was taken in a senseless act of violence. We understand a large number of people had gathered for a memorial service and what should have been a time to come together in remembrance has instead left a family devastated. We believe between 40 and 50 people, including children, were present when this incident occurred. Someone knows what happened and we need them to come forward.”
A post-mortem examination has been scheduled to formally establish the cause of death, though police believe the victim sustained a gunshot wound. The victim’s family has been informed and is being supported by specialist officers.
Police appeal for witnesses
Police are asking anyone who was around Erconwald Street, Braybrook Street, the surrounding roads or the Wormwood Scrubs playground between 18:00 and 20:00 to think carefully about what they saw. Officers are particularly interested in anyone carrying or concealing weapons, people on bicycles acting suspiciously, or vehicles being driven at speed.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Met is also seeking photographs, video, dashcam, doorbell or mobile phone footage, as well as anything posted on social media that might be relevant. No arrests have been made.
Why it matters
A shooting in front of a large crowd, with children present, is the kind of incident that raises immediate public anxiety well beyond the immediate area. East Acton and the wider Acton area have seen repeated concerns about street crime and gang-related violence, and an incident of this kind puts pressure on both the police and local authorities to explain what safeguards exist around large gatherings in public spaces.
It also matters because witnesses are the single most likely route to a conviction. Police appeals of this kind usually depend on residents with doorbell cameras and phone footage coming forward within the first 24 to 48 hours, before images circulate widely and attention moves elsewhere.
What happens next
The immediate priority is identifying those present and recovering any footage from the surrounding streets. Detectives will continue canvassing the area and will likely hold a further appeal for information as the post-mortem results come in. No arrests have been made at this stage, and the Metropolitan Police have asked anyone with relevant information to come forward.
We do not allow links of any sort in comments. No SPAM whatsoever. On topic comments only.