Fatal Shooting in North-West London Leaves One Woman Dead, Two Men Injured

A shooting incident in north-west London resulted in the death of a woman and injuries to two men. Metropolitan Police officers responded to reports of gunfire in Harlesden around 21:15 GMT on Saturday, discovering a woman, thought to be in her 40s, who was pronounced dead at the location. Of the two injured men, both in their 30s, one is reported to be in critical condition, while the other sustained injuries that are not considered life-threatening. An unnamed local resident reported hearing five consecutive gunshots on Saturday evening. Authorities have not yet made any arrests, and a murder investigation has been launched. A man residing close to the shooting site conveyed to the PA News agency, stating: “I was inside the church and someone came in and said there had been a shooting.” He added, “I looked outside and it was pandemonium.” The River of Life Elim Pentecostal Church, located on Gifford Road, is situated behind the police cordon. An additional witness from the vicinity, who requested anonymity, informed BBC News: “I heard the gun shots and then when I opened the window I saw one guy running.” This witness further indicated that a man had been struck in the leg and that the shots originated from a vehicle. A neighbour residing on Gifford Road mentioned that her daughter had returned home a mere 10 minutes prior to the shooting. The same woman also stated that the deceased victim was not a resident of the immediate area. She continued, “My son thought there were fireworks, then I heard my neighbour screaming and I realised there was a shooting.” Expressing her distress, she added, “It’s crazy, it’s sad. It’s scary, it does not feel safe.” She concluded by noting, “I’ve lived here since 2008 and I’ve never heard anything like this before.” Superintendent Tony Josephs commented, “This is a truly shocking incident that has left a woman dead and two others injured, and I understand the concern this will cause the local community and those across London.” He further stated, “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.” Supt Josephs urged anyone possessing information regarding the shooting to contact the police. Dawn Butler, the Member of Parliament for Brent East, expressed that she was “devastated to learn of the murder” and similarly called upon anyone with relevant information to reach out to the police. The intersection of Gifford Road and Creukhorne Road has been sealed off as law enforcement personnel proceed with their investigation. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Information regarding its approach to external linking is available.