A drive-by shooting incident in North West London, England on Saturday night, December 14, 2024, claimed the life of a mother of two and left two others injured. The tragedy occurred at the River of Life Elim Pentecostal Church in Harlesden, where people had gathered for a traditional wake ceremony.
The victim, 46-year-old Michelle Sadio from Walthamstow, East London, was shot as a car pulled up and began firing into the crowd. At the time, Sadio had stepped outside during the nine-night ceremony in memory of 80-year-old Dinah Boateng, a long-time member of the church who passed away on December 5.
A friend of Sadio, who requested to stay unidentified, commented, “The nine-night ceremony was a beautiful occasion to mark Aunty Dinah, who was part of the church’s congregation for many years. There was nobody there who had any kind of gang affiliation.”
Two more men, both in their 30s, were also injured in the assault. One man from the Dagenham area sustained a gunshot wound in his foot, while another from Wood Green is in critical condition at the hospital after being shot in the back.
The shooting took place around 9:15 p.m., with approximately 150 people, mostly elderly and families with children, in attendance at the ceremony. The shooter, who remains at large, is suspected to have used a semi-automatic weapon from a black car.
“Michelle was stopped by someone just before she went outside. She was asked if she was going home and said she wasn’t but wanted to take a breather outside. The music was quite loud,” the friend recounted. “The first we knew something had happened was when people ran in screaming about shots being fired and people being hit.”
Police speculate that the shooting may be linked to a longstanding feud between two local gangs – the Church Road gang (CSB or Crime Scene Boyz) and their rivals in nearby Stonebridge (TOS, Thugs of Stonebridge). The conflict between these groups has lasted for over two decades.
Superintendent Tony Josephs from the North West Command Unit expressed his dismay about the incident. “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,” he stated.
The Metropolitan Police has initiated a murder investigation. CCTV footage showing the moment the vehicle pulled up and began shooting, with mourners scattering in different directions, has been obtained. Specialist officers are supporting Sadio’s family, which includes her children, as the investigation proceeds.
Pastor Lawrence Larbie of the River of Life Elim Pentecostal Church confirmed that those shot were participants in the nine-night ceremony for Mrs. Boateng, a native of Kumasi, Ghana. The event was intended to end at 10 p.m., but the shooting happened roughly 45 minutes before it was due to conclude.
