Man shot dead at ‘nine-nights’ wake attended by over 100 people

A YOUNG man was killed when shots were fired at a funeral wake early today, in the capital’s seventh killing in 12 days.

Police including firearms officers found the victim, in his twenties, with a gunshot injury in Windrush Road, Harlesden, at about 3am. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Neighbours said more than 100 people had been at a Caribbean “nine-nights” celebration in honour of another man who died last week. They were seen fleeing as a series of gunshots were fired.

Police are informing the victim’s family. There have been no arrests.

A witness said: “There was a massive nine-nights for a young man who died recently. There was very loud music and hundreds of people at the wake which went into the early

Street search: investigators after the fatal shooting in Harlesden today

hours. Then I heard gunshots, there were a lot, up to nine. There was a pause before the last shot. It was no way anything other than gunshots.”

A man who left the wake before the shooting said: “I don’t know why it all kicked off. I am in total shock — I’m worried it could have been one of my friends who has been killed.”

It is the 67th homicide investigation opened by the Met this year, compared with 84 at this point in 2019.

A resident said: “We have had enough of this, the level of violence around here since the lockdown eased has been unacceptable. Just what is going on? We are terrified.”

This morning, a police tent was put up where the man was killed, outside a flat where the party was held.

A teenager who was stabbed to death early yesterday in a Maida Hill car park near Harrow Road has been named locally as Ahmed Yasin Ali, 18. He was ambushed and beaten by a gang who inflicted the fatal knife wound before fleeing in a vehicle. A GoFundMe page has raised £7,500 for the funeral. Organiser Hajaar El-harrak wrote: “Ahmed was known for his radiant smile and positivity.”

Anyone with information about the fatal shooting in Harlesden is asked to call police on 101 quoting reference Cad 895/16Jul.