[Ammi]

…the lady who was killed and the other two victims were all mourners who were attending a church wake…




Harlesden murder victim was 'mourner gunned down in drive-by shooting outside church wake'…


The victims of a drive-by shooting which left a woman dead outside a North West London church were mourners attending a wake, according to the head of the church. Met Police officers were called at around 9.15pm on Saturday night to Gifford Road, between Harlesden and Willesden, where a woman, believed to be in her 40s, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Two men, both in their 30s were also injured. One is in hospital in a critical condition while the second man’s injuries are non-life threatening, the force said. Forensics combed the area for crime scenes late on Saturday, and a cordon was in place at the junction of Gifford Road and Creukhorne Road on Sunday morning with several officers posted at the scene.

Pastor Lawrence Larbie, from the River of Life Elim Pentecostal Church, said there was a wake going on inside the church that was due to end just before 10pm. But at around quarter past nine, he said people began running into the building saying 'there's been a shooting, there's been a shooting'.

"It turns out three people have been hit by a drive-by shooting," Pastor Lawrence told MyLondon, "The whole place was surrounded by police. One person shot in the back, we heard. People tended to them before the ambulance arrived. The car just drove through. The victims were people attending the wake. They were probably on their way home.

"It's shocking. We are really devastated. You are invited to attend the wake and you end up deceased. You're killed. You're gone. You're life is expired just like that. It was pandemonium in the building. They came with very deadly, evil intentions to cause death.

"We are just praying for peace on our streets, and people should not be afraid. We pray they will apprehend them."

MyLondon has contacted the Met Police in relation to Pastor Lawrence's comments on the attack being a drive-by shooting targeting people attending a wake. A police spokesperson said they could not go into 'any further detail' at this time as the investigation continues.

One resident told PA News Agency people were 'crying and screaming' as they exited the church to the sight of bodies on the ground. Another witness claimed they heard five gunshots in quick succession. One witness, who was inside the church, described a similar scene to Pastor Lawrence, also calling it 'pandemonium'.

'Heinous act of violence'

Superintendent Tony Josephs, from the North West Command Unit which covers Brent, said: “This is a truly shocking incident and I understand the concern this will cause the local community and those across London.

“I want to reassure people that a team of experienced detectives are already working at pace to piece together the events of last night and identify whoever was responsible for this heinous act of violence.

“If you were in or around Gifford Close at the time of the shooting, or have any information about who was responsible, please get in contact with us. A family has been left devastated and we need to work together to provide them with answers.”