Crime reporter(wp/es):
Detectives launched a murder hunt today after a young man who worked for a shipping company was shot dead on his doorstep in front of his mother.
James Owusu was speaking on his phone with his front door open in Harlesden when two men casually walked past and blasted him in the back, his family said.
Police, paramedics and firearms officers rushed to the scene in Tynsdale Road at 10.45pm last night after reports of a shooting.
Mr Owusu, 22, a business administration graduate, was treated in his home for mutliple gunshot wounds but died at the scene.
Today his devastated family told how the victim worked for a shipping company in Wembley and was also a part time DJ.
His mother Deborah described how witnessed her son slump on the doorstep after he was gunned down.
She told the Standard : “He was my only son, I am absolutely devastated. He was a good boy in every way. We cannot understand why this has happened I am heartbroken.”
His uncle George said: “He was a bright, lovely, gentle guy. He was never in any trouble. We cannot understand. He was shot in front of his mother.
"We are all just confused, I spent a lot if time with him, we even worked together. He was no gang member or anything like that.”
Another uncle Tom Katro, 49, said Mr Owusu’s family were originally from Ghana and were well respected in the community. He said his nephew was brought up as a Jehovah’s Witness and attended bible reading classes.
Mr Katro, who runs a valet service, said: “James was a lovely boy who knew his scriptures well. He was bright and was liked by everyone who knew him. He went to university and his family were very proud of him.
“This was not a boy who was in trouble. His mum and dad are devastated. He was shot in front of his mother who has been very ill. He was her only son this is just so terrible.”
A witness, who did not want to be named, said: “Two people walked by and shot him in the back. He was on his phone and the door was open, he was not expecting it.
"I tried to save him and gave him CPR but there’s nothing more I could have done. He was a good friend, we are all hurting.”
The boss of the shipping company where the victim worked described him as a “model employee”.
Sam Amiah, 63, who runs Sam Amiah Shipping, said: “He was really good. I knew him from a little boy because I am close to the family. He worked hard, was always punctual and was good on the phone.
“Just hours before he was killed he called me to talk about the business and was doing an extra course at the University of Hertfordshire to improve himself.
"He did some DJing as well but it never got in the way off his work for me. Believe me, he was a good person.”
Resdients described hearing four load bangs which they thought was fireworks going off.
Pauline Murray, 43, said: “There were four load thuds, I thought it was fireworks going off so thought no more about it. It’s such a tragedy. It happens too much around here.”
The shooting took place just fifty metres from the spot where Oilver Tetlow, 27, was killed in a hail of machine gun fire in March. There is no evidence the incidents are linked.
Scotland Yard appealed for witnesses to the shooting. There have been no arrests.
No comments:
Post a Comment