This is the terrifying moment a yob pulled out a handgun before ‘assassinating’ a 15-year-old boy during a ‘family fun day’ in west London.
Rene Graham was gunned down while surrounded by parents and children at Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance open space – also known as ‘Teletubbies Park’ – in Ladbroke Grove last July.
The shooting took place at an annual pre-Notting Hill Carnival event and allegedly came amid a violent postcode war between rival gangs.
Chilling new CCTV footage released by police on Saturday shows a balaclava-clad suspect walking calmly towards the busy park.
He can be seen taking a handgun out of his pocket before he entered Teletubbies Park via the children’s play area and shot Rene in the chest.
Further images show that after killing Rene, the shooter chased down a second victim in the middle of a busy street.
The suspect can be seen pointing the gun at the young man as he flees around a corner and dives behind a white BMW.
Police investigating the shooting say they believe the answers lie within a ‘small pocket of the community’ – as they offered a £20,000 reward for information.
Detective Chief Inspector Alison Foxwell, who is leading the investigation said: ‘Rene was tragically shot dead during a busy music festival.
‘Since the launch of the investigation, officers have reviewed hundreds of hours of CCTV and taken numerous statements from witnesses.
‘Rene’s family have continued to be supported throughout these enquiries, and they remain understandably devastated about his death.
‘Recently, a man in his 20s was interviewed under caution in relation to Rene’s murder and we continue to investigate all lines of enquiry.’
Teletubbies Park lies within the W10 postcode but is close to the border with the W9 zone.
In the aftermath of the shooting, residents told there had been raised ‘tensions’ between gangs of youths operating in the two areas.
DCI Foxwell added: ‘The person responsible for Rene’s murder opened fire in a busy park where dozens of people, including very young children, were enjoying themselves.
‘Officers have appealed to the local community on multiple occasions – we believe there are people sitting on the name of the person responsible.
‘This person, who was willing to take the life of Rene and risk the lives of others, remains in your community.
‘Now is the time to get in touch with us to give Rene’s family the peace they deserve. Our thoughts, remain as ever, with them.’
Locals claim that two gangs operating near the area have been involved in a long running ‘war’ with each other – the Ladbroke Grove Boys (LGB), who are based on the Kensal New Town Estate, and the Harrow Road Boys (HRB) from the Mozart Estate.
Beverley Campbell who was at the Park Lime event told : ‘Everybody around here knows about the war between the LGB and HRB.
‘This is quite a rough area and gang members attacking each other is not a new thing.’
She revealed that soon after the shooting, Rene’s distraught mother arrived at the scene but was not allowed to see his body as police had sealed off the area. She was then joined by his father and other relatives.
Kelvin, 38, a local resident of the Kensal New Town Estate told : ‘It may sound a bit crazy to outsiders, but this rivalry is not a new thing.
‘It’s been going on for years and all of us refer to each other as from being ‘over the water.’
‘We don’t like them, and they don’t like us. But the gangs have taken it to another level and things have got a lot worse.
‘They’re constantly attacking each other and most of these don’t even get reported to the police. If a gang member or any young person is found in the wrong territory, then it always causes problems.’
Olaseni Soyinka, 37, another local resident who was also at the Park Lime event added: ‘Everybody was having a great time. People were dancing and there was loud music.
‘Then we heard these bangs, and I wasn’t sure what it was but then people started running.
‘There are constant problems around here, our youngsters are out of control.
‘When they’re not fighting each other, they’re causing a lot of anti-social nuisance by robbing local shops, letting of fireworks and damaging our cars.
‘We don’t bother calling the police because they don’t do anything.’
The Mozart estate was completed in 1974 and is made up of 737 houses and flats in 25 medium-rise blocks.
Since then, it has acquired a reputation as one of the capital’s ‘sink estates’ and is blighted by poor housing conditions, crime and drug dealing.
The Kensal New Town estate was completed in the 1970s and is made up of around 700 flats and homes that are also affected by a variety of social issues.
Both are just stone’s throw from multi-million-pound homes and flats in Notting Hill that are home to A listers and are among the most expensive properties in the country.
Crimestoppers is offering a reward of up to £20,000 for information that leads to the identification and prosecution of those responsible for Rene’s murder.
Alexa Loukas, London Regional Manager for Crimestoppers, said: ‘Rene, was very sadly murdered last year in broad daylight with over two hundred people present.
‘The significant and lasting impact on his family, friends, and the local community, cannot be underestimated and our thoughts and condolences are with his loved ones.
‘We believe someone who either witnessed the incident or knows of someone who was there on the day, will have information.
‘No matter how insignificant they think it could be, it could help bring those responsible to justice.
‘You can contact Crimestoppers completely anonymously – we won’t ask for your name and are unable to identify your telephone number or IP address if you are reporting online.
‘We don’t record calls, so once you have contacted our Charity there is no further involvement.
‘Your information is passed anonymously on to the Police with no questions asked.
‘Please do the right thing to find justice for Rene, who was only 15 years-old at the time of his death.
‘Your information could make a real difference, and you may be eligible for a reward.’