Hunt continues for lockdown party killer
TWO YEARS ON, GRIEVING FAMILIES CALL FOR HELP TO FIND BRUTAL GUNMAN ‘WHO COULD KILL AGAIN’
THE GRIEVING families of two men shot dead during a lockdown party have described their continuing pain on the second anniversary of the shocking double murder.
Police are still hunting their prime suspect, two years after the shooting in Caythorpe Street, Moss Side.
Detectives believe Cheriff Tall, 21, was gunned down when a row suddenly erupted with the killer – and moments later father-of-three Abayomi ‘Junior’ Ajose, 36, a support worker, was also shot after he stepped in to help.
Both men were shot in the head during a party held in a car park off Caythorpe Street, Moss Side, in the early hours of June 21, 2020.
The name of the suspect, believed to be from Birmingham, was very quickly known by police and the community of Moss Side but he has so far managed to evade capture.
Detectives suspect he may now have fled the country.
Yesterday, on the second anniversary of the brutal double murder, Abayomi’s widow has spoken movingly about her husband while Cheriff’s father urged anyone with information – particularly video from the event – to come forward to help nail the murderer.
About 400 people attended the illegal lockdown party and detectives say they have travelled the length and breadth of the country to speak to people they have identified as being present.
More than 50 mobile phones have been seized and forensically examined and hundreds of hours of footage have been viewed.
Both men were shot in the head and were confirmed dead when they arrived at hospital.
The suspect has so far evaded capture despite a series of raids, many in the Midlands.
Abayomi’s wife, Lola, said: “It’s affected us in every way, especially with the children. Every day’s like a reminder that he’s not here any more and life’s never going to be the same without him.” She added: “He loved his kids, doted on them, and did everything for them. As a husband, I feel like I was spoiled because he did everything for me. He just wanted everybody to be happy and laughing and dancing.”
And she added: “It would just mean so much to us as a family for any footage, any pictures, anything that you can bring to the police just to bring whoever it is that murdered my husband to justice.”
Cheriff’’s father Moussa Tall endorsed Lola’s appeal and said: “Somebody who killed two people in one night with no remorse, without anything and without any respect. You know that (person) can kill again. So I’m calling for that somebody who knows something to just come forward and help us.
“The whole family is broken up.”
Inspector Neil Higginson, who is leading the investigation, said: “We are desperate to get justice for the families and for us to achieve that we need more information.
“They are still distraught. It’s parents who have lost their sons, kids who have lost their fathers and someone who has lost their husband. It’s two years but that pain has not gone away.”
Asked about the suspect, Insp Higginson said: “Undoubtedly people will know where he is.
“It’s obvious he has got help. Our aim is that when that moment comes when he is located – and undoubtedly he will be arrested – we do have the very best evidence we can against him.
“We are sure people will have seen parts of it or the lead up to it. There will be people who have seen key things which would really help us and the families get the justice that they really want.
Contact police on 0161 856 9908, quoting incident number 221 of 21/06/20 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Every day’s like a reminder that he’s not here any more and life’s never going to be the same without him Lola Ajose