Plea to find killer 2 years after party shootings
Suspect believed to be from city
LOVED ones of two men shot dead during a lockdown party have spoken out on the second anniversary – as the hunt continues for their killer, suspected to be from Birmingham.
The double murder took place in Moss Side in Manchester.
Police believe Cheriff Tall, 21, was shot first when a row suddenly erupted with the gunman. Moments later father-of-three Abayomi ‘Junior’ Ajose, 36, a support worker, was also gunned down.
The name of the suspect, believed to be from Birmingham, was known to police – but he has evaded capture ever since, with some believing he has fled abroad.
Abayomi’s widow, Lola, said: “It’s affected us in every way, not for the good, especially with the children.
“Every day’s like a reminder that he’s not here anymore and life’s never going to be the same without him.”
She added: “As a father, he was a fun dad. 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 as well.
“Yeah, he loved partying and loved being around family and friends. He just wanted everybody to be around and happy and laughing and dancing. He loved dancing.”
Lola said: “It would mean so much to us as a family for any footage, any pictures, anything that you can bring to the police and get in touch with them just to bring whoever it is that murdered my husband to justice.”
Cheriff’s father, Moussa Tall, said: “He’s a killer, he’s dangerous to society. Maybe he already killed or is awaiting to kill again. 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, help the police to catch this killer because two years is too long.
“We and the family, we’re not eating, we’re not thinking, because I cannot share this country with this killer while he’s still here, somewhere out there. My rest is not good anymore. The whole family is broken up completely. I’m really calling to that somebody who knows something, please, please come forward.
“It can help people and help the police to catch this killer. This is very hard for the whole family. This is very hard for the whole community exactly at this time when the anniversary comes to remember the death of Cheriff. It brings memories again, so many, and it’s very, very hard for the whole family, especially the whole community.”
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
Help us, help the police to catch this killer because two years is too long. Mr Tall’s father
hours of footage has been viewed.
Insp Neil Higginson, who is leading the investigation, said: “We know people will have information who haven’t come forward yet for whatever reason that might be.
“But we are desperate to get justice for the families and for us to achieve that we need more information. We need people to come forward.
“They are still distraught. It’s still very painful for them. 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. He’s been on the run for two years. It’s obvious he has got help from someone or some people somewhere. He’s someone we’re really keen to locate but 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 think there are people out there who can help us to do that. It was a party. It was loud and people may not have seen the full offence. 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.
“The gunman clearly has not got a conscience if he can kill people this way and he has never come forward.”