Men guilty of church drive-by shooting murder

In a tragic incident near a church in northwest London, two men have been convicted of murdering Michelle Sadio during a drive-by shooting. The 44-year-old legal administrator died after being struck by stray bullets at a wake for her friend Dianne Boatong, a 80-year-old woman, on December 20, 2024.

The attack occurred around 21:00 GMT when mourners were gathered outside the River of Life Pentecostal Church in Harlesden. A black Kia pulled up and fired at least four shots into the crowd, leaving two others injured. Kenneth Amoah, 39, a transport for London contractor, was paralyzed from the waist down, while Kadeem Francis, 32, sustained a foot injury.

Perry Allen-Thomas and Amir Salem were found guilty of murder and attempted murder by a jury at the Old Bailey. The victims included children as young as five, and the prosecution argued that Sadio was not the intended target. The rapper Trapstar Toxic, whose real name is Adetokunbo Ajibola, 33, was said to be the primary focus of the attack.

Shaquille Sutherland, known as Lil Shak, and Tahjin Sommersall, both from west London, were acquitted of all charges. Allen-Thomas and Salem are scheduled for sentencing in June. The police described the incident as “a well-orchestrated attack that had been planned for several months.”

“It speaks of Michelle’s personality and character that she was there to support her friend that night and tragically she lost her life through these consequences,” said Det Ch Insp Phil Clarke of the Metropolitan Police.

The shooting has sparked discussions about the safety of public gatherings, particularly in areas with high foot traffic. For updates, listeners can tune into BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Story ideas can be submitted to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk.