A 15-year-old boy who was ‘assassinated’ during a ‘family fun day’ in west London amid a violent postcode war between rival gangs has been named.
Rene Graham was gunned down in broad daylight while surrounded by parents and children at Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance open space – also known as ‘Teletubbies Park’ – in Ladbroke Grove at 7.20pm on Sunday.
The shooting, which witnesses claim was preceded by the perpetrators firing bullets into thee air to clear the crowds of people, took place outside ‘Park Lime’, an annual pre-Notting Hill Carnival event featuring DJs and stalls.
The park lies in the W10 postcode area and is close to the border with the W9 area, with residents claiming there have been raised ‘tensions’ between gangs of youths operating in the areas.
The Metropolitan Police locked down the area following the incident and last night officers arrested four men on suspicion of murder.
Rene Graham, aged 15, was gunned down in Ladbroke Grove on Sunday evening in an ‘assassination’
A man is taken away by police yesterday after the shooting in Ladbroke Grove, West London
Police officers take away a man yesterday evening following the shooting in Ladbroke Grove
Police tape cordoning off the area near Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance park in London today
Today the Met revealed that two of those in custody are 21 year’s old, with the others aged 20 and 25. The force previously said six men had been arrested but has since clarified this was incorrect and four people were taken in by police.
Detective Chief Superintendent Christina Jessah, who is in charge of policing for Kensington and Chelsea, said: ‘A young boy has tragically lost his life and our thoughts remain with his family and friends at this devastating time. We will continue to provide them with specialist support.
‘I understand that the public, especially those who live and work in the area, will be shocked and concerned by this incident. All of us at the Met share that concern and we are using all of the resources at our disposal to identify those involved.
‘This investigation is at an early stage and we are keeping an open mind as to the motive. It will take us some time to establish the facts and this will be our priority in the coming days.
‘We are keen to speak to other witnesses who were in the area at the time of the shooting, There was an event taking place and it’s possible people may have been taking photos or filming. Please check to see if you have captured anything that may help detectives.
‘Residents can expect to see a significant police presence in this area. Officers are there to provide reassurance and support – please speak to them if you have concerns.
‘Tragic incidents like this remind us whey it is so important that we continue our unrelenting focus on suppressing violence and gun crime, and catching the offenders who endanger our communities.’
Witnesses today revealed scenes of chaos when the shooting happened, before the emergency services including police and the air ambulance were called.
Police guard a cordon near Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance in Ladbroke Grove this morning
Police tape cordoning off the area near Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance park in London today
Police officers on the scene in Ladbroke Grove today after the incident yesterday evening
Aaron Mason told The Telegraph he was just metres from the victim when he heard three gunshots.
He said: ‘I heard ‘pap, pap’ and then another ‘pap’… everyone was just scrambling away.
‘There’s a rivalry between W9 and W10. It’s not what it used to be but it’s still there.’
One 20-year-old told the Evening Standard: ‘Everyone was chilling, having a good time when I heard a shot. A guy shot in the air as a warning, it looked like, so people would clear out of the way. Then everyone scattered, we ran.
‘When the cries cleared he shot the boy. He was on the ground. Everyone was running and taking cover, it was mad. It was targeted, it looked like an assassination.’
The person added that there had been ‘lots of problems’ between a gang from the nearby Harrow Road and other rival groups in the area.
Another witness told the newspaper: ‘I heard two bangs then the boy collapsed on the ground. It looked like he had been hit in the chest.
Youth worker Jediah Ali said today that violence in the area is ‘not new’, adding: ‘I feel sad. I’ve got a heavy heart, but I’ve witnessed this time and time and time again, over and over’
Police guard a cordon near Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance in Ladbroke Grove this morning
Police tape cordoning off the area near Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance park in London today
The boy died at the scene following the shooting at ‘Park Lime’, which is an annual pre-Notting Hill Carnival event organised by the Caribbean Music Association featuring DJs and stalls
‘There was sheer panic, everyone was running. The next thing there were sirens and police everywhere. It had been a nice event, no problems, then carnage.’
Hundreds of people had gathered at the open space, known locally as ‘Teletubbies Park’ due to the brightly coloured children’s play area which bears a resemblance to the children’s TV show.
Youth worker Jediah Ali, who had planned to attend the event but changed his mind, was informed of the shooting by a friend who was in the park.
He said: ‘One friend described seeing a 15-year-old boy laying with his eyes just open and he’s quite traumatised by that.’
Mr Ali, who has lived in the neighbourhood for 15 years, said violence in the area is ‘not new’, adding: ‘I feel sad. I’ve got a heavy heart, but I’ve witnessed this time and time and time again, over and over.’
Police officers guard the crime scene in Ladbroke Grove, West London, last night
He continued: ‘The likelihood is that things of this nature are going to keep happening unless the root causes are discovered and treated.
‘I don’t think anything’s really been done to tackle the root causes of youth violence in London.’
Father Damian Ryan, 43, a priest at a church bordering the park, estimated that more than 1,000 people were in attendance at yesterday’s event and were ‘spilling over’ onto the nearby streets.
He said: ‘It was a rammed park and outside it was spilling over as well.’
When asked how he felt when he heard about the shooting, Father Ryan said: ‘I wasn’t in complete shock if I’m completely honest – heartbroken, utterly heartbroken, so saddened and maybe a bit of misplaced anger.
‘Several months ago, there had been a murder… a couple of hundred yards away someone was murdered.
Police and paramedic vehicles outside Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance yesterday evening
‘I’ve only been here two years, but other parishioners, people in the community, are saying this is not completely abnormal.’
Speaking today, she added that the shooting was ‘absolutely horrific and just awful for the family’.
When asked what the council is doing to reduce violence in the area, Ms Campbell said: ‘We do huge amounts.
‘We have detached outreach teams working with the young, we have a huge amount of youth clubs, we have outstanding social work – so we do absolutely everything we can on our side as the council.’
The shooting came just hours before a crew for the upcoming crime thriller movie Fuze, starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Theo James, were due to begin filming at the park today.
One security officer who was working at the event told MailOnline: ‘A teenager was assassinated. I was right there. People were rushing and everyone was screaming.
‘They were rushing through the barrier. There were two gunshots. We had booked the street that’s cordoned off for a film shoot tomorrow (Monday).’
Police officers guard the crime scene in Ladbroke Grove, West London, last night
Another security officer for a nearby building said: ‘There’s loads of guns around here. It’s the area. It’s a dodgy area.
‘Everyone around here has got something. Carnival is coming next month. People start hurting themselves for no reason. It’s sad.’
Dozens of residents were prevented from getting to their cars, with one telling MailOnline: ‘We can’t access our vehicles. We’re just waiting. We’ve not been given much information. We’ve been waiting a couple of hours.’
Videos posted on social media showed multiple police and paramedic vehicles outside the park, which is named after a 19th century philanthropist and politician.
Elizabeth Campbell, leader of Kensington and Chelsea Council, said in a statement posted on X: ‘It is truly shocking and I cannot begin to imagine what family and friends are going through.
Police officers guard the crime scene in Ladbroke Grove, West London, last night
A murder investigation is underway following the shooting in Ladbroke Grove last night
‘We will be supporting our communities and assisting the police in every way we can. Many people will be understandably worried about this terribly violent incident happening in our neighbourhood.
‘I’m glad to hear from our police teams that there will be a very visible police presence in the coming days.’
Speaking today, she added that the shooting was ‘absolutely horrific and just awful for the family’.
When asked what the council is doing to reduce violence in the area, Ms Campbell said: ‘We do huge amounts.
‘We have detached outreach teams working with the young, we have a huge amount of youth clubs, we have outstanding social work – so we do absolutely everything we can on our side as the council.’
The MP for Kensington and Bayswater, Joe Powell, described the attack as ‘horrific news’ in a statement posted on X.
Police officers stand beside a cordon near Hazlewood Crescent in Ladbroke Grove last night
The teenager was found fatally wounded at 7.20pm last night at Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance
He wrote: ‘I’m aware of the horrific news that a young boy has been shot and killed in Golborne this evening – and my thoughts are with his family. These senseless acts of violence must stop.’
A police cordon remained in place at the scene today where forensic officers were seen searching the area and taking photographs.
A statement from the Metropolitan Police said: ‘A murder investigation is under way following a shooting in Ladbroke Grove. Police were called at approximately 7.20pm on Sunday, July 21 to reports of a shooting in a park near Hazlewood Crescent, W10.
‘Officers, London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance all attended the scene. A teenager, believed aged 15, was found suffering injuries. Despite the best efforts of the emergency services he was pronounced dead at the scene.
‘Work is ongoing to identify and inform his next of kin. No reports of any other injuries. Six males have been arrested on suspicion of murder and remain in custody. A crime scene remains in place at the location.’
Police officers guard the crime scene in Ladbroke Grove, West London, last night
An unmarked police car is seen with its blue lights on in the streets of Notting Hill yesterday
And the London Ambulance Service said: ‘We were called at 7.19pm this evening (Sunday) to reports of a shooting in a park off Hazlewood Crescent, Ladbroke Grove.
‘We sent a number of resources including ambulances crews, paramedics in fast response cars and an incident response officer. We also dispatched London’s Air Ambulance.
‘Sadly a man died at the scene despite the best efforts of our crews to save his life.’
The ‘Park Lime’ event was promoted by the Caribbean Music Association on its Facebook page, which urged ‘carnival groupies’ to attend – adding: ‘Don’t miss out on the family fun. Good weather, good food, good vibes.’
The annual event normally takes place on a Sunday about five weeks before the Notting Hill Carnival itself.
This year, the Carnival is due to take place next month on August 25 and 26.
The Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance open space is known locally as ‘Teletubbies Park’ due to the brightly coloured children’s play area which bears a resemblance to the children’s TV show
Last year’s event saw eight people stabbed, police officers assaulted and 275 arrests across the two days.
Some 165 arrests on the Monday were for a range of offences including possession of offensive weapons, possession of drugs and sexual offences.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley later said he was ‘worried’ about the severity of crime at the festival.
Then-prime minister Rishi Sunak also said violence at the event showed the need for police and the courts to be given tougher powers to tackle so-called ‘zombie knives’ and machetes.