The grieving families of two men shot dead during a lockdown party in Moss Side have described their continuing pain on the second anniversary of the shocking double murder as the police hunt for the 'dangerous' prime suspect continues.
Police believe Cheriff Tall, 21, was shot first when a row suddenly erupted with the gunman - and moments later father-of-three Abayomi 'Junior' Ajose, 36, a support worker, was also gunned down after he stepped in to help. Both men were shot in the head during a lockdown party held in a car park off Caythorpe Street, Moss Side, in the early hours of June 21, 2020.
The name of the suspect, believed to be from Birmingham, was very quickly known by police and the community of Moss Side but he has so far managed to evade capture. Detectives suspect he may now have fled the country.
READ MORE: 'Concerned' medics have a plan to deal with Monkeypox if it spreads to Greater Manchester
Today, on the second anniversary of the brutal double murder, Abayomi's widow has spoken movingly about how the party-loving family man was always 'happy and laughing and dancing' while Cheriff's father urged anyone with information - particularly video from the event - to come forward to help nail the 'dangerous' gunman who he said may have killed before and, unless he is caught, could do so again.
About 400 people attended the illegal lockdown party and detectives say they have travelled the length and breadth of the country to speak to people they have identified as being present. More than 50 mobile phones have been seized and forensically examined and hundreds of hours of footage have been viewed.
Both men were shot in the head and were confirmed dead when they arrived at hospital. Three gunshot cartridges were found at the scene. Police have identified a suspect but he has so far evaded capture despite a series of raids, many of them in the Midlands.
Abayomi's wife Lola said: "It's affected us in every way, not for the good, especially with the children. Every day's like a reminder that he's not here anymore and life's never going to be the same without him."
She added: "As a father, he was a fun dad. He loved his kids, doted on them, and did everything for them. As a husband, I feel like I was spoiled because he did everything for me as well.
"Yeah, he loved partying and loved being around family and friends. He just wanted everybody to be around and happy and laughing and dancing. He loved dancing. He had some crazy moves that nobody could ever... well I tried to do, not anyone else. He was just fun to be around."
Appealing for anyone with video footage or information to help bring the killer to justice, Lola said: "It would just mean so much to us as a family for any footage, any pictures, anything that you can bring to the police and get in touch with them just to bring whoever it is that murdered my husband to justice."
Cheriff''s father Moussa Tall endorsed Lola's appeal and said: "He's a killer, he's dangerous to society. Maybe he already killed or is awaiting to kill again. Somebody who killed two people in one night with no remorse, without anything and without any respect. You know that (person) can kill again. So I'm calling for that somebody who knows something to just come forward and help us, help the police to catch this killer because two years is too long.
"We and the family, we're not eating, we're not thinking. Because I cannot share this country with this killer while he's still here, somewhere out there. My rest is not good anymore. The whole family is broken up completely. I'm really calling to that somebody who knows something, please, please come forward. (It's) just a little thing you need to do, a little thing. And that little thing can do a lot of things.
"It can help people and help the police to catch this killer. This is very hard for the whole family. This is very hard for the whole community exactly at this time when the anniversary comes to remember the death of Cheriff. It brings memories again, so many, and it's very, very hard for the whole family, especially the whole community.
"We appreciated everybody's help, and we welcome everybody's help (from) the community, the police, the friends. We welcome the wonderful job you are doing but we just need to push a little bit with the work with everybody. Something can be done now.
"So please, please, I'm asking (for) that little thing, please come forward and justice will be done."
The Manchester Evening News revealed in October last year that police believe the handgun used was supplied on the night.
Inspector Neil Higginson, who is leading the investigation, told the M.E.N: "We know people will have information who haven't come forward yet for whatever reason that might be.
"But we are desperate to get justice for the families and for us to achieve that we need more information. We need people to come forward.
"They are still distraught. It's still very painful for them. It's parents who have lost their sons, kids who have lost their fathers and someone who has lost their husband. It's two years but that pain has not gone away."
Asked about the suspect, Insp Higginson said: "Undoubtedly people will know where he is. He's been on the run for two years. It's obvious he has got help someone or some people somewhere. He's someone we're really keen to locate but our aim is that when that moment comes when he is located - and undoubtedly he will be arrested - we do have the very best evidence we can against him.
"We think there are people out there who can help us to do that. It was a party. It was loud and people may not have seen the full offence. We are sure people will have seen parts of it or the lead up to it. There will be people who have seen key things which would really help us and the families get the justice that they really want.
"The gunman clearly has not got a conscience if he can kill people this way and he has never come forward."
GMP has a dedicated portal available for anyone to send through footage or photographs: https://mipp.police.uk/operation/06GMP20S30-PO1
Anyone with information can contact police on 0161 856 9908, quoting incident number 221 of 21/06/20 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Read next:
-
Boris Johnson taken to hospital as Raab steps up as acting Prime Minister
-
Ryanair strikes - all the planned walkout dates that could affect your holiday plans this summer
-
What homes you can buy in Greater Manchester with a budget of £100,000
-
Man, 22, in 'serious' condition after punch from behind in Stevenson Square, Northern Quarter
