Man, 22, bailed after girl, 8, injured in car shooting outside her home

A 22-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder has been bailed, after a schoolgirl was injured in a shooting, police have said.

The girl, 8, was injured after being caught in the crossfire of the attack outside of her home in Southern Row, Kensal Rise on Sunday, just after 5.30pm.

Police earlier today said she had suffered ‘non-life-threatening’ injuries.

Officers said the suspect has been bailed to a date in early February pending further enquiries.

A hero witness described the moment she saw her neighbour slumped over the steering wheel of his car after he was gunned down outside his home.

The schoolgirl, her two-year-old sister, and her father, 34, were all injured after the gunman fired shots into their parked car from close range.

A 22-year-old man was arrested yesterday on suspicion of attempted murder, but has now been bailed to appear before a court in February.

Terhas Ghebremichael, 58, a foster carer told today Metro she didn’t hear the shots but received a text from a neighbour and ran to help the family despite the danger.

She said: ‘I had the hair dryer on so I didn’t hear the shots. My neighbour messaged me and I ran out.

‘My neighbour was slumped over the steering wheel and his partner and two kids got out I asked the woman who I know if I could help.

‘I asked to help with her children she was so distressed. I did what I could. I know these people they moved into the block when I did in 2016.

‘They have two teenage boys and two girls who are younger. They are very nice people, very decent.

‘The teenage boys open the door for you when you see them on the corridor.

‘I’m deeply shocked. I couldn’t sleep last night it gave me nightmares. The police need to find the gunman to attack such a family is terrible.

‘I don’t think the family can come back until they are caught. They were shot on their more or less on their doorstep.’

A neighbour of a family ambushed by a gunman said he was ‘mystified’ at how anyone would want to attack them. 

The man, 42, who did not want to be named told Metro: ‘They are a really nice, typical family who are friendly neighbours who would to anything for anyone.

‘I’ve known them for years and I can hand in heart say they have been nothing but lovely.

‘The children are polite, the boys going to the local school and are good kids and the dad seems a good bloke.

‘This is a total mystery to us there is nothing that would have raised alarm bells. We just hope they are going to be ok, we are very concerned.’

Another witness, 64, told Metro: ‘I heard shots, and then a woman shouting: ‘My baby, my baby’s been shot … it makes me sick to think about it now.

‘There were four or five shots, there was screaming it’s horrible. A neighbour went out with a duvet to cover the injured. 

Father of five Ali Hussien, 52, an Uber driver told Metro: ‘I heard four or five bangs I thought it was fireworks. 

‘There were suddenly police everywhere. Now I know it was a shooting it’s very scary.

‘Especially as I have children. I have a daughter, 9, so I fear for my children. The police do their best but there is a lot of crime.’

Another witness said: ‘There were about five loud bangs.’

A retail worker, 34, said: ‘I heard boom, boom, boom, boom.

‘There was a gap between the shots then I heard a scream, it sounded like from a child.

‘It was a desperate cry, and it was a very scary. It could only have been.’

A neighbour spoke of his shock that the ‘down to earth family’ had been targeted. 

The 32 year old said: ‘They are a nice down to earth family. There is the mum, dad and four children. There have two bits and two girls I think.

‘They seem nice neighbours, I spoke to the bloke a few times. They have lived here for a king time.

‘The only strange thing is that the dad went missing for a few months recently, didn’t see him at all. I saw their car with the windows shot out. It’s so shocking.’

Superintendent Owen Renowden, the lead for policing in Kensington and Chelsea, said: ‘The Met’s investigation is being led by detectives from the Specialist Crime Command who are working closely with our local teams.

‘I recognise that any shooting has a traumatic impact on the local community. There will be a continued presence from our neighbourhood policing teams over the coming days and we are also working closely with our partners to provide additional reassurance.

‘Although the investigation is progressing at pace, I want to appeal today to anyone with information that may assist to come forward.’

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