Pictured: Boy, 15, ‘assassinated’ by gunman at family fun day in west London park

22 July 2024, 17:55 | Updated: 23 July 2024, 08:05

The victim of a west London park shooting has been named and pictured for the first time.

15-year-old Rene Graham was killed in Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance Park on Sunday July 21.

Four men, two aged 21 and the others aged 20 and 25, were arrested following the teen’s death and remain in custody, police confirmed in a statement today.

Rene was found badly injured at the scene. He was pronounced dead despite the efforts of paramedics.

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.”

Speaking after the brutal attack, eyewitnesses recalled seeing the shooter jump from a bush and assassinate the 15-year-old.

One woman wrote on social media that her brother "saw the guy come from the bushes and fired the gun in the crowd."

Another eyewitness said: "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."

Anyone with information regarding the attack is asked to call 101 or message @MetCC on X, formerly known as Twitter.

You can also contact police anonymously through independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Father Damian Ryan, 43, a priest at a church bordering the park, estimated that more than 1,000 people were in attendance at Sunday'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."I've only been here two years, but other parishioners, people in the community, are saying this is not completely abnormal."

Elizabeth Campbell, leader of Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council, said 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.

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."