Detectives investigating the murder of a much-loved woman outside a north west London church during a wake released CCTV of a getaway car used in the triple drive-by shooting.
Michelle Sadio, 44 - described as a “brilliant” mother - was gunned down by the occupants of a black Kia on Gifford Road, Harlesden at about 9.15pm on Saturday.
The vehicle, with distinctive alloys, was driven two miles to Barnhill Road, Wembley where it was then abandoned and set alight, the Metropolitan Police said.
Two men, both in their 30s, were also injured in the incident outside River of Life Elim Pentecostal Church.
One is in hospital in a critical condition while the second man’s injuries are non-life-threatening.
Detective Chief Inspector Phil Clarke, from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, who is leading the investigation, said: “While we are making significant progress in our investigation, we continue to appeal for anyone who witnessed this incident and particularly anyone who has information about the black Kia to please get in touch.
“The black Kia Niro was distinctive as it was a hybrid electric vehicle with unique alloys. Did you see it that night at any point, or in the days before the shooting?
“Thank you to those who have already come forward. What you know, however insignificant it may seem now, could hold the key to this investigation.
“My team is working tirelessly to piece together the events that took place on Saturday evening, and to provide Michelle’s family with the answers they need.”
Mrs Sadio and others were standing outside the River of Life Elim Pentecostal Church following a wake attended by 120 people. Officers and London Ambulance Service paramedics attended the scene.
The victim’s family have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.
Her husband Jean-Marie added: “I am in shock. How could this happen? No-one has any respect for life anymore. I had to tell my children that this tragedy has taken their mother away.”
A friend of Ms Sadio told The Sun: “She was a light in all of our lives.
“She adored her children and worked hard to give them a happy life.”
There have been no arrests at this stage and enquiries into the circumstances continue.
A neighbour, on lives on Gifford Road, told reporters they heard “crying and screaming” as people ran out of the church to tend to the victims.
The neighbour said: “We heard the shooting sound and we thought it was fireworks, we didn’t expect there would be a gun here.
“People came out of the church, they were at a wake and they saw the bodies on the ground.”
Fatal shootings in London are relatively rare. So far this year there have been 103 homicides, of which 11 were shootings – a similar proportion to the two previous years.
The number of times guns are fired, called lethal barrel discharges by police, was 166 in the year to November 2024, down 14.8 per cent on the previous 12 months.
Anyone with information that could assist police is asked to call 101, quoting reference CAD 7137/14DEC, or independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
