Two individuals have been convicted of the murder of an “innocent” woman in a drive-by shooting outside a funeral gathering.
Michelle Sadio, a 44-year-old mother of two, was fatally shot outside the River of Life Pentecostal Church in Willesden, located in north London, on December 14, 2024. The incident occurred when a black Kia pulled up outside the church, and a person inside the vehicle opened fire on a group of mourners gathered for a wake, as revealed in the trial at the Old Bailey court.
Michelle Sadio, employed as a legal administrator, was struck by the gunfire and tragically passed away at the scene. She was one of approximately 100 mourners, which included young children, attending the wake for 80-year-old Dianne Boatong. Another attendee, Kenneth Amoah, 39, an employee of Transport for London, sustained a gunshot wound to his back, leaving him paralyzed below the waist, while Kadeem Francis, 32, was shot in the foot.
“This act of violence was both shocking and unacceptable, targeting innocent members of the community outside a place of worship,” prosecutor Crispin Aylett KC informed the jury. “There is no indication that any of the victims were the intended targets.”
The intended target was identified as a rapper known as Trapstar Toxic, whose real name is Adetokunbo Ajibola, aged 33, present at the event.
Following the trial, Perry Allen-Thomas, 27, and Amir Salem, 20, were convicted of murder and two counts of attempted murder. Rapper Shaquille Sutherland, also known as Lil Shak, 26, from Wembley, and Tahjin Sommersall, 19, from Feltham, west London, were acquitted of any involvement.
The prosecution alleged that Mr. Sommersall was in the Kia with two other individuals who fled the country after the incident. While at least four shots were discharged, it remained unknown who among the Kia occupants fired the weapon.
Allen-Thomas, residing in Wembley, north London, was accused of orchestrating the shooting but ensuring he was not present at the scene. The stolen Kia used in the attack had counterfeit license plates.
After the shooting, the vehicle was soaked in petrol and set on fire. Salem, from Wembley, was reported to have purchased some of the fuel used in the arson, according to the jurors.
On the night of the shooting, Salem maintained communication with the Kia occupants and relayed information to Allen-Thomas. The firearm utilized had been previously involved in two other incidents within a few months, being described as a “gang weapon.”
In one of the prior incidents, an individual from a car fired shots at a group of men outside a pizzeria, discharging 11 rounds and injuring one person in the ankle, with no link to the defendants.
During his trial, Mr. Sommersall denied being inside the Kia and asserted he was at a council estate in Wembley at the time of the shooting. The other defendants refuted any involvement or knowledge of the events.
Following the verdicts, Mrs. Justice McGowan detained the two convicted individuals pending their sentencing on a future date.