A gunman who opened fire at mourners outside a church wake and killed a mother did so with “with very deadly, evil intentions,” the local pastor has said.
The woman in her 40s was shot dead in the drive-by shooting while attending a wake at the River of Life Elim Pentecostal Church.
It happened in Harlesden, north-west London, on Saturday night, leaving two men, both in their 30s, injured.
The Metropolitan Police launched a murder investigation following the “truly shocking” incident and there is an ongoing manhunt for the gunman.
Locals described hearing “crying and screaming” as they recalled the harrowing night.
Pastor Lawrence Larbie said there was a wake which was due to finish at 10pm but at around 9.15pm people began rushing into the building saying “there’s been a shooting”.
He described kind members of the public rushing to help the victims before the emergency services arrived and added that it was “pandemonium” inside the building.
“They came with very deadly, evil intentions to cause death,” he proclaimed.
Speaking to MyLondon, he continued: “The car just drove through. The victims were people attending the wake. They were probably on their way home.”
Pastor Larbie said he was “devastated” by the news, adding “you are invited to attend the wake and you end up deceased. You’re killed. You’re gone. Your life is expired just like that.”
Officers rushed to the scene on Gifford Road at 9.15pm, along with the London Ambulance Service, and the police labelled the horror incident a “heinous act of violence”.
The mother died at the scene. One man remains in hospital in a critical condition as he fights for his life and the other’s injuries are not life threatening.
A chilling CCTV clip shows a black car turn into the road before stopping in front of the waiting crowd in the moments before the shooting. Gunshots were then heard.
One local thought the gunfire was the sound of fireworks before another neighbour began shouting and they rushed to see what was going on.
Paying tribute to the killed mother, who has not been named, a friend described her as “brilliant”.
She 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.”
Witnesses told MailOnline that they heard multiple gunshots and a woman “screaming”.
One neighbour, a 40-year-old mother of five, said: “Last night we were inside our house and we heard a woman screaming, crying and shouting around 9pm.
And then all our neighbours ran out and then police and ambulance started coming and we could hear the sirens.
Our neighbours said they heard gunshots and that the shooting happened outside.
We’ve lived here for 17 years and never seen anything like this.
It’s really bad this is happening in our community. Our youngest, a nine-year-old, slept in our bed because he was so scared.’
A woman who worked at a nearby church said she was in a service at around 8.30pm when she heard gunshots.
The music was really loud so I heard ‘pow pow pow’, she said. “I could hear crying and screaming and shouting.
I went outside and saw that a woman in her 40s was injured. I wanted to perform CPR on her but I was so scared that the gunman would kill me.
Then five or six minutes later the ambulance arrived but it was too late.’
A resident of nearby Creukhorne Road, who did not wish to be named, said they heard five gunshots in a row.
Meanwhile another man who lives near the scene of the fatal shooting described the incident as “pandemonium”.
He said: “I was inside the church and someone came in and said there had been a shooting. I looked outside and it was pandemonium.”
Another neighbour, who has lived in the area since 2008, said her daughter had come home just 10 minutes before the shooting.
The woman added the victim did not live in the area.
She said: “My daughter came though the door 10 minutes before it happened.
‘My son thought there were fireworks, then I heard my neighbour screaming and I realised there was a shooting.
‘It’s crazy, it’s sad. It’s scary, it does not feel safe.
Road closures remain in place around the scene today as police continue to gather evidence.
There have been no arrests and enquiries into the circumstances continue.
Superintendent Tony Josephs, from the North West Command Unit which covers Brent, said: “This is a truly shocking incident that has left a woman dead and two others injured, and I understand the concern this will cause the local community and those across London.
‘I want to reassure people that a team of experienced detectives are already working at pace to piece together the events of last night and identify whoever was responsible for this heinous act of violence.
‘If you were in or around Gifford Close at the time of the shooting, or have any information about who was responsible, please get in contact with us.
‘A family has been left devastated and we need to work together to provide them with answers.’
Anyone with information that could assist police is asked to call 101 or ‘X’ @MetCC and quote CAD7137/14Dec. You can also provide information anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
The River of Life Elim Pentecostal Church on Gifford Road is behind the police cordon.
**Conclusion:** The tragic shooting outside a church wake has left a community in shock and mourning. The Metropolitan Police are working tirelessly to identify the gunman and bring them to justice. If you have any information, please come forward and help the police in their investigation.
**FAQs:**
Q: What happened outside the church?
A: A gunman opened fire at mourners outside a church wake, killing a woman and injuring two men.
Q: Who is responsible for the shooting?
A: The Metropolitan Police are investigating and working to identify the gunman.
Q: What is being done to help the community?
A: The police are working to bring the gunman to justice and provide support to the family and community affected by the shooting.
Q: How can I help the investigation?
A: If you have any information about the shooting, please call 101 or ‘X’ @MetCC and quote CAD7137/14Dec. You can also provide information anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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