Woman arrested for shooting Nigerian social care worker at a Manchester street party
A Father-of-three Abayomi Ajose, 36, was gunned down along with 21-year-old Cheriff Tall in the early hours of Sunday morning during the event in Moss Side, Manchester. They later died in hospital.
In a statement, Greater Manchester Police said: ‘Yesterday evening (Thursday) a woman aged 32 from the Birmingham area has beeb arrested on suspicion of two counts of murder. She remains in custody for questioning. Police are continuing to appeal for information.’
The victims were shot around 12.55am on Sunday in Caythorpe Street during the ‘spontaneous gathering,’ which came hours after a family event nearby in Moss Side, said police.
Witnesses and family members of Mr Ajose, who worked for children’s services at Manchester City Council, said he was acting as a ‘peacemaker’ during a row before he was fatally shot.
Moss Side has been shocked by the double murder, with police and Councillor Mahadi Hussein Sharif Mahamed saying the incident was ‘not a true representation of what our Moss Side is all about’.
The victims’ devastated families paid tribute to social care worker and ‘community hero’ Mr Ajose, and ‘model son’ Mr Tall, who lobbied against youth violence in Parliament.
In a tribute to Mr Ajose – also known as Abi and Junior – his wife Lola said: ‘Junior was an exceptional human being, he was my king and he treated me like his queen.
‘Anything I needed he would get for me and always went beyond my expectations. The best thing about him for me was the way he showed his love for our three children.
‘He will be sadly missed by all, I am devastated and heartbroken. I am left without a doting husband and a loving father to our three children.’
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