Teenage boy shot dead at ‘family fun day’ event is named

A teenage boy shot dead at a family fun day event attended by more than a thousand people in west London has been named as Rene Graham.

The 15-year-old died at the scene in Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance Park, near Ladbroke Grove at the weekend.

Officers were called on Sunday evening to reports of a shooting and have since arrested six people on suspicion of murder.

At the time of the attack, it is believed more than a thousand people were attending the annual Park Lime event, organised by the Caribbean Music Association, which was billed as a “family fun day” featuring live music, games and face painting.

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.”

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 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.”

A police cordon remained in place at the scene on Monday morning where forensic officers were seen searching the area and taking photographs.

In a statement on Sunday, the Metropolitan Police said: “Anyone with information at this early stage is asked to call 101 or ‘X’ @MetCC and quote CAD6343/21Jul. You can also report information anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

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