Man shot dead as crowd gathers for memorial service in west London
A 40-year-old man was fatally shot in west London while up to 50 people, including children, gathered for a memorial service. Police have launched a murder investigation and are appealing for witnesses.
The Metropolitan Police have launched a murder investigation after a 40-year-old man was shot dead on Friday evening in East Acton, west London. The shooting occurred at the junction of Braybrook Street and Erconwald Street, where between 40 and 50 people, including children, had gathered for a memorial service.
According to police, officers were called to the scene at 19:47 GMT after members of the public reported hearing multiple shots. Both police and London Ambulance Service crews attended, but despite medical efforts, the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
No arrests have been made so far. A police cordon remains in place on Braybrook Street, and investigators are urging anyone with information to come forward. The victim's family has been notified and is receiving support from specially trained officers.
A post-mortem examination is scheduled to determine the exact cause of death, though police believe the victim suffered a gunshot wound.
Police appeal for witnesses
Det Ch Insp Brian Howie, who is leading the investigation, described the killing as a "senseless act of violence," noting that what should have been a gathering of remembrance instead left a family devastated. He said someone must know what happened and appealed for that person to contact police.
Howie asked anyone who was in the vicinity of Erconwald Street, Braybrook Street, surrounding roads, or Wormwood Scrubs playground between 18:00 and 20:00 on Friday to think carefully about what they saw — including anyone carrying or concealing weapons, people on bicycles behaving suspiciously, or vehicles being driven at speed. Police are also asking for any photographs, video, dashcam or doorbell footage, or relevant information seen on social media.
