This is the first picture of a man who died after being chased by a gang brandishing an axe in Acton.
Nash Clyne, 33, who was originally from Grenada, was killed in the early hours of Sunday having been found with serious injuries, the Met Police said.
Witnesses said they saw a man being chased by a gang, with one swinging a tomahawk axe while others brandished broken bottles.
The force believes at least three other people were hurt during the incident but none of those injuries are thought to be life-threatening.
Shevonte Thomas, who went to school with Mr Clyne, told the Metro: “He was a great, cool guy. He had three kids. He liked cooking and when we were young playing football. I don’t know how this could have happened. He was a nice, quiet guy.”
Officers cordoned off an area around Birkbeck Road, close to Acton Central railway station, after rushing to the scene just after 4am on Sunday.
A witness also told the Metro he saw a man “swinging and running after a middle-aged guy”.
He said: “He had an injury above his eyebrow. Others chasing him had bottles. They were really going for him. As they were attacking him I was on the phone to the police describing what was happening.
“It was so violent I saw another man injured as well. It all seemed to be connected with the barbers.”
Another witness described how a birthday party had been taking place at a nearby barber shop before the attack broke out.
They told the newspaper: “The guy who died wasn’t young, he was an older guy seen like a father figure in the community. People look up to him.”
Detectives are also investigating whether there were possible shots fired during the attack.
News quickly spread that the attack was a suspected shooting, with shopkeepers, pub managers and the police hearing stories of gunshots.
One neighbour described how several residents believed they heard shots fired as the attack broke out.
She told the Standard: “There were several people living at the bottom of Birkbeck Road. These people heard the shooting.”
The neighbour added that the area had been left in “absolute chaos” following the attack.
They continued: “I have been living here for 20 years and my partner for 40 years. It’s the first time we have had a crime like this.
“People fighting is normal on the high street but a crime like this I’ve not seen before.”
The Met Police said they are investigating “the nature and cause” of the attack and what weapons were used.
Another nearby resident described how helicopters had quickly appeared in the area, comparing it to a “warzone”.
Dario Gjergji, who works opposite the crime scene, told the Standard he had been woken by shouting and the sound of helicopters in the early hours of Sunday.
He said: “I live close to where something happened. I just heard people shouting and then I heard the police… It was very strange.”
When the shop worker left his home at around 8am he found the whole of Birkbeck Road had been cordoned off with several police cars positioned along the street.
A second resident who works just metres away from the crime scene told the Standard: “It’s all a bit scary. We are living in a dangerous area.
“This is the first time in 15 years this has happened. It was a very quiet area but not anymore. Everything is changing.”
Acton residents can expect to see an increased police presence over the next few days as officers work to establish what happened.
Detective Chief Inspector Brian Howie, who is leading the investigation, said: “We are in the early stages of our investigation and my team of experienced detectives is working at pace to establish why Nash was murdered and bring those responsible to justice.
“We are urging anyone who was in the area or who knows anything about what happened to come forward. We particularly want to hear from anyone who was at the Front Line Cuts barber shop or the Paradise Cuts barber shop, both in Acton High Street, between 22:00hrs on Saturday and 04:30hrs on Sunday.
“What you know, however insignificant it may seem now, could hold the key to this investigation.”
Anyone with information about the incident is urged to call police on 101 providing the reference 1132/08DEC. Information can also be provided to Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
