logo
New details released in Moss Side double shooting investigation

New details released in Moss Side double shooting investigation

BBC News6 hours ago

Detectives investigating a double killing have released new details of a person they want to speak to on the fifth anniversary of the shooting.Junior Ajose, 36, and Cheriff Tall, 21, were shot dead at a lockdown party in the Moss Side area of Manchester in the early hours of 21 June 2020.In a fresh appeal, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) urged witnesses who may have seen someone wearing a black Icon cap with a white logo, and a white Nike Air T-shirt with a small black logo over the left side of the chest portion to come forward.The force said it was "not too late to do the right thing".
Mr Ajose and Mr Tall, who did not know each other, were both shot in the head in a car park off Caythorne Street shortly before 01:00 BST and later died in hospital.No-one has ever been charged over the killings. It was estimated that 300-400 people were present in the car park that night, police said.Investigators believe some of those present would be able to provide crucial eyewitness accounts to help track down the killer.
Det Ch Insp Neil Higginson said: "We need members of the community to get in touch and help us with some key information."I understand that people might be scared, and that is normal given what has happened but there is a range of measures that we can put in place to keep witnesses safe."Evidence can be given on video or behind a screen. "It could also be that we could apply to the courts for the witness to be anonymous if there are grounds to do so."I'd just ask for you to come forward and we can have an honest chat about what we can do, as you don't have to commit to giving a statement in the first instance."
'Awful circumstances'
He said the person believed to be responsible for the killings was from Birmingham."He is not a member of the local Moss Side community, and he should not be protected," said the senior investigating officer. "Anyone who comes forward in this case is not a 'grass' for helping the police, they are simply doing what is right for two families who have had their loved ones taken from them in awful circumstances."A £50,000 reward remains available for key information that leads to the conviction of the killer.
Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Witness appeal after racially aggravated offence at Woking Station
Witness appeal after racially aggravated offence at Woking Station

BBC News

time24 minutes ago

  • BBC News

Witness appeal after racially aggravated offence at Woking Station

Police are appealing for witnesses following a racially aggravated public order offence outside a train station in Surrey.A man was approached outside Woking Station and a racial slur was allegedly used towards him, police said.A man in his 40s has since been arrested for public order offences, and investigations remain incident happened between 23:00 BST and midnight on Thursday. Anyone with information, especially those who were near the High Street side of the train station at the time of the offence, is urged to contact the force.

Fresh appeal to catch killer of two men in Moss Side on fifth anniversary of their deaths
Fresh appeal to catch killer of two men in Moss Side on fifth anniversary of their deaths

ITV News

time44 minutes ago

  • ITV News

Fresh appeal to catch killer of two men in Moss Side on fifth anniversary of their deaths

Police have made a fresh appeal for information on the fifth anniversary of a double killing at a lockdown party in Manchester. Cheriff Tall, 21, and father of three Abayomi 'Junior' Ajose, 36, were shot dead at a 'spontaneous' party attended by 400 people in Moss Side in the early hours of June 21 2020. The event, with a DJ and PA system, took place in a car park in the middle of a block of flats hours after a Black Lives Matter protest. Detectives are appealing for information if witnesses know or saw someone there who was wearing a black Icon cap with a white logo and a white Nike Air T-shirt with a small black logo over the left side of the chest. A £50,000 reward remains available for key information that leads to the discovery and conviction of the killer, who police believe is from Birmingham. Detective Chief Inspector Neil Higginson, from Greater Manchester Police's (GMP) Major Incident Team, said: 'This year marks five years since Cheriff and Junior went out to a party but sadly never returned home to their loved ones. Their families have been left devastated by their loss, and they deserve justice. 'We will never be able to bring back their beloved Cheriff and Junior, but we can see that their killer is brought to justice. We need members of the community to get in touch and help us with some key information. 'There were hundreds of people in the car park that night and we are sure that there are people who saw the incident, even if it was just part of it. 'However, there has been a reluctance for witnesses to come forward with information. 'I understand that people might be scared, and that is normal given what has happened, but there is a range of measures that we can put in place to keep witnesses safe. 'Evidence can be given on video or behind a screen. It could also be that we could apply to the courts for the witness to be anonymous if there are grounds to do so. 'I'd just ask for you to come forward and we can have an honest chat about what we can do, as you don't have to commit to giving a statement in the first instance. 'The person responsible for these murders we believe is from Birmingham. He is not a member of the local Moss Side community, and he should not be protected. 'Anyone who comes forward in this case is not a 'grass' for helping the police, they are simply doing what is right for two families who have had their loved ones taken from them in awful circumstances. No one deserves that. 'When we have worked together in the past, we have achieved great results and if we work together again, we can get justice for Cheriff and Junior. It's not too late to do the right thing.' Anyone with information, however small or insignificant, should contact GMP in confidence on 0161 856 2035, quoting incident number 221 of 21/06/20. Alternatively, reports can be made in confidence to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555111. Information, including pictures and videos, can be uploaded anonymously to the Major Incident Public Portal for Operation Tarnbrook at

Birmingham driver told passengers 'to run' before fatal crash
Birmingham driver told passengers 'to run' before fatal crash

BBC News

time44 minutes ago

  • BBC News

Birmingham driver told passengers 'to run' before fatal crash

A driver who was being followed by police told his passengers to "jump out of the car and run" moments before he crashed into a tree and suffered fatal injuries, an inquest has Qasim, 29, was captured speaking on an 18-second video taken by back seat passenger Mohammed Ibrahim before the crash on Island Road, Handsworth, in the early hours of 2 October Qasim died in hospital after suffering "catastrophic head injuries".The BMW had been followed by PC Paul Withers, of West Midlands Police, who denied he was in pursuit of the vehicle, which he said had been travelling "easily double" the 30mph speed limit. He told the inquest at Birmingham Coroner's Court that he had been carrying out intelligence checks on the car and did not know if Mr Qasim was aware he was following him because his manner of driving did not change and the officer did not have his blue lights on. But on Friday, Mr Ibrahim said Mr Qasim had been aware of the police car and sped up as he drove "loops" around Island the video, shown to jurors, Mr Qasim could be heard telling his passengers to "jump out of the car and run".Mr Ibrahim could then be heard telling him to "chill", which he said was him trying to tell the driver to slow down, with Mr Qasim telling him to "shut up".Mr Ibrahim, who was severely injured in the crash, said he did not see Mr Qasim drinking alcohol or smoking, but the inquest previously heard the driver had been was one-and-a-half times over the drink-drive limit, had recently smoked cannabis, and was not wearing a said he started filming because he had earlier been stopped and searched. 'Wanted to pull over' Front seat passenger Ria Garcha, picked up by Mr Qasim the previous evening, said the pair had been drinking and he had empty vodka bottles in his car he wanted to get rid said: "When we first saw the police, the boy [Mr Ibrahim] said, 'oh there's the police' and he put his foot down and went faster."I was telling him to slow down, they weren't coming."They were telling me to shut up. I couldn't seen any lights or sirens behind us."A couple of minutes later the boy said the police were there again."Ms Garcha told the inquest Mr Qasim said he "wanted to pull over and run", adding he "told us to be ready".She said he "drove really fast" before crashing into the tree. Independent expert Jonathan Little, Staffordshire Police chief driving instructor, said he had "no criticism" of PC Withers's and Paul Trowman, chief driving instructor for West Midlands Police, agreed the collision, on the balance of probability, would have happened regardless of the officer's agreed the crash was a combination of speed, alcohol and Trowman did not train PC Withers but said that he had initial training in 2009 and refresher training in 2015 and inquest continues. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store