A man who died in a fatal shooting had previously been jailed for breaking a woman's jaw during a nightclub row in Manchester. Zikel Bobmanuel was named by his family as the victim at the centre of a murder investigation at the weekend.
The father who was said to be his mother's 'pride and joy' had just welcomed a six-week-old baby into the world, the M.E.N reports. Paying tribute to Xikel, his family described him as a 'good friend, hard working colleague' who was 'part of a large extended family'.
A cordon has been placed on Sandywell Street in Openshaw east Manchester since around 2pm on March 25 when emergency services were called out to the scene. Zikel was confirmed dead at the scene by first responders after he suffered gunshots.
His family said: “He held the heart of his girlfriend in his hand and was a hands on father to his beloved children, the youngest just six weeks old. Zikel was happy and fulfilled, he was working hard to provide for his family and was never more content than when he was spending time with them
"It is difficult to comprehend that Zikel has died under such tragic circumstances and the shock is profound. We are devastated beyond belief and find it hard to comprehend life without him.
"We would like to thank everybody for their kind words and the comfort their support has given us and respectfully ask for some privacy at this difficult time.” In September 2018 Zikel sobbed as he was jailed for punching a woman and leaving her with a broken jaw after he had been thrown out of a Northern Quarter bar in Manchester.
The defendant had begged for a custodial sentence not to be imposed after telling the court about his upcoming music career and how he had spend £500 of his own money making a documentary about helping rough sleepers in Manchester. However, a judge did not sympathise with his story and jailed him for 22 months for his unprovoked attack on an 'innocent' young mum after he pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm at Manchester Crown Court.
The defendant had been involved in a bust-up outside Walrus bar at 1am after he had been thrown out of the Northern Quarter nightspot in July 2017 the court heard. Zikel worked as a joiner and tiler as well as having his own fashion line and a music label which he has already signed six artists to.
The court heard he had also been lined up to appear on Radio 1Xtra and was building a studio to help aspiring musicians. However Judge Michael Leeming told him: "It was the sort of drunken aggressive behaviour of which the public is simply fed up."
Bobmanuel claimed he was the victim of racist abuse outside the bar but the judge ruled there was no evidence or suggestion that his victim had delivered any such abuse. In the victim's personal statement referred to in court, the woman said it had been an 'unprovoked attack' which had left her with a swollen face for six months and 'life-changing injuries'.
The court was told that the mum had been operated on twice, had permanent mental plates in her face and will be scarred for life. Before passing sentence Judge Leeming read seven testimonials which were said to have touched on the defendant's religion and 'another side' of his character.
Lee Hughes, defending, told the court how the father had spent £500 creating a 40-minute documentary on the homeless people of Manchester which had been uploaded to YouTube. The film is believed to have shown the defendant giving food and clothing to rough sleepers.
In a released statement from GMP in reference to the shooting at the weekend, it was confirmed that a 33-year-old male suspect had been arrested after what they believed to be a 'targeted attack'. They are continuing to seek out one suspect who is believed to have fled the scene in a vehicle.
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