15 hours ago
Gunman responsible for double shooting at lockdown party at large five years on
Cheriff Tall, 21, and father of three Abayomi "Junior" Ajose, 36, were shot dead at a "spontaneous" party attended by 400 people during lockdown in June 2020
Detectives have issued a renewed call for information about the shooting of two men at a lockdown party as the gunman remains at large five years on.
Cheriff Tall, aged 21, and Abayomi "Junior" Ajose, a 36 year old father of three, were mercilessly killed during an impromptu bash joined by 400 attendees in the Moss Side area of Manchester, shortly after midnight on June 21, 2020.
Taking place within an automobile park encircled by flats, this gathering boasted a DJ and sound system, occurring mere hours subsequent to a Black Lives Matter demonstration.
In their bid to identify the culprit, the sleuths are keen on witnesses who might have clocked an individual donning a distinctive black Icon baseball cap with a conspicuous white emblem and a white Nike Air tee brandishing a petite black insignia over its left breast.
A significant enticement remains in play—a £50,000 bounty for information pivotal in tracking down and prosecuting the perpetrator, whom constabulary hypothesise hails from Birmingham.
Leading the inquiry, Detective Chief Inspector Neil Higginson of the Greater Manchester Police's (GMP) Major Incident Team articulated: "This year marks five years since Cheriff and Junior went out to a party but sadly never returned home to their loved ones. Their families have been left devastated by their loss, and they deserve justice."
Relentless in pursuit of accountability, he added, "We will never be able to bring back their beloved Cheriff and Junior, but we can see that their killer is brought to justice. We need members of the community to get in touch and help us with some key information."
'There were hundreds of people in the car park that night and we are sure that there are people who saw the incident, even if it was just part of it. However, there has been a reluctance for witnesses to come forward with information. '.
'I understand that people might be scared, and that is normal given what has happened, but there is a range of measures that we can put in place to keep witnesses safe. '.
'Evidence can be given on video or behind a screen. It could also be that we could apply to the courts for the witness to be anonymous if there are grounds to do so. I'd just ask for you to come forward and we can have an honest chat about what we can do, as you don't have to commit to giving a statement in the first instance.
'The person responsible for these murders we believe is from Birmingham. He is not a member of the local Moss Side community, and he should not be protected.
'Anyone who comes forward in this case is not a 'grass' for helping the police, they are simply doing what is right for two families who have had their loved ones taken from them in awful circumstances. No one deserves that.
'When we have worked together in the past, we have achieved great results and if we work together again, we can get justice for Cheriff and Junior. It's not too late to do the right thing."
Anyone with information, however small or insignificant, should contact GMP in confidence on 0161 856 2035, quoting incident number 221 of 21/06/20. Alternatively, confidential reports can be made to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
Information, including pictures and videos, can be uploaded anonymously to the Major Incident Public Portal for Operation Tarnbrook at
