PICTURED: Father-of-three, 36, and ‘beautiful young soul’, 21, fatally shot during street party

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A father-of-three and a 21-year-old were fatally shot at an illegal lockdown rave in Manchester in the early hours of Sunday.

Abayomi Ajose, 36, was described as a ‘community hero’ as tributes poured in for the ‘peacemaker’ and ‘beautiful young soul’ Cheriff Tall, 21.

Police launched a double murder investigation after reports of gunfire at 12.55am, but there have been no arrests following the impromptu street party in Moss Side.

A GoGetFunding page has been set up for community worker Mr Ajose, also known as Abi Junior.

It’s understood the father-of-three may have been acting as peacemaker when trouble broke out at the party.

‘To everyone who may not yet have heard the news, our dear friend Abi Ajose (Junior) was killed in the early hours of Sunday 21 June 2020,’ the page said.

‘Abi has worked with young people in the community for many years. A selfless and caring brother in the community. Testament to his character, died trying to prevent such a tragic event from happening.’

One donor Lekan Kehinde described Mr Ajose as ‘a heartfelt, joyful and peaceful gentlemen’. She added: ‘An amazing Husband to Lola, and Father/ Family man to his beautiful children. Rest in Eternal Peace x.’

Machael Shaikh also paid tribute to Mr Ajose on Facebook, saying: ‘It’s with such a heavy heart that I sit here and try to find the words.

‘I’m not going to use this time to talk about my utter frustration on the senseless killings of positive, hard working people, as I would much rather focus on the impact that those people have on their families and their communities. 

‘The legacy Junior Abi leaves behind is one of compassion, love, peace and genuine care for others.

‘I find comfort in knowing that his legacy will be carried on through all of us that had the pleasure of knowing him and I for one, despite now living in the other side of the world, will never forget his energy and selfless personality.’

Mr Ajose’s Facebook page says he was originally from Lagos in Nigeria and studied at Enfield College in London.

Jenny McGarry, headteacher at St Mary’s Primary School in Moss Side, paid tribute to former pupil Mr Tall, who is originally from Gambia.

She wrote on the school’s website: ‘One of our past pupils Cheriff Tall lost his life this weekend and we join with his family in their grief and sadness. Please keep Cheriff and his family and friends in your thoughts.’

Writing on Facebook, LouL’anne Mayaél Joquel wrote: ‘May your young soul Rest In Perfect Peace Sheriff Taal.

‘It’s a devastating news. A very sad loss of a beautiful young soul.’

Youth worker Kemoy Walker also paid tribute to Mr Tall, who is also referred to as Sheriff Taal.

He wrote: ‘Heartbroken. So upset today to wake up and hear the devastating news of losing yet again another young person in our community of Moss Side – my heart goes out to the family during this time… We had some good memories at Hideaway and Powerhouse Youth Club back in the day… Speechless today.’

Mr Walker later posted a video of dozens of people marching through Moss Side in memory of the two men. 

He wrote: ‘The essence of true community spirit – this is the Moss Side that is not shown often, people coming together for a one minute silence then a walk in the community – we came together as one to grieve and support each other during this time. RIP Cheriff.’ 

Greater Manchester Police have faced questions why they didn’t prevent the party from happening after announcing a crackdown on illegal raves and receiving complaints from residents. 

Assistant Chief Constable Chris Sykes said Saturday’s event had been a ‘spontaneous’ gathering and there had been ‘no specific criminal activity’.

He said: ‘We have to be really proportionate and sometimes it’s not achievable to safely disperse every group of people that are gathering.

‘Based on the numbers you have got and what is going on, you make an assessment. And it would have been unachievable in our view on that to disperse that in an effective way.’

Local youth worker Akemia Minott said the Moss Side community ‘has been through so much in recent years and these murders have created a new layer of devastation for us all’.

She called on anyone with any information to come forward to Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and called for more support for the community.

She added: ‘Despite the collective grief we have experienced, the necessary systems to deal with our trauma are still not in place and we are building this infrastructure for community healing ourselves, but we need support to ensure it’s sustainable.’

Councillor Mahadi Hussein Sharif Mahamed said the incident was ‘not a true representation of what our Moss Side is all about’.

In a statement released through GMP, he also called on anybody who knows anything to contact authorities, and added: ‘Moss Side has come a long way and has overcome the challenges of the past.

‘We have done this by coming together and showing our resilience. We need to do the same now.’  

Ten people, including two children, were shot at a Carnival event in the area in August 2018. 

Throughout the 1970s and 80s, Moss Side was blighted by gang violence, which earned it the nickname of ‘gunchester’.  

Councillor Nigel Murphy, Deputy Leader at Manchester City Council, said: ‘This is tragic beyond belief and as a council we offer our support, thoughts and prayers to the families and communities facing such loss.

‘We will look at how we help young people in particular who will have been traumatised by the incident – and this will include making mental health support available.

‘We’d also stress that we know that this incident does not reflect the rich character and vibrancy of an area with such a strong sense of community. We’d ask people to come forward and help the police in any way they can with this investigation.’  

Chief Inspector John Harris paid tribute to local people ‘united in their shock and sadness’ and reiterated the call for information and said: ‘The victims’ families deserve to see the offenders brought to justice and we need the help of the community to trace those individuals who are responsible.’

The unplanned gathering was hosted by a DJ after an earlier Black Lives Matter event in Moss Side – monitored by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) – passed off without incident. 

It followed two parties the previous weekend where a man died from a suspected drugs overdose, a woman was raped and three people were stabbed.

The events, in Daisy Nook Country Park, Oldham, and in Carrington, attracted 6,000 people.