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Housing association says ‘new approach is needed’ following fatal Manchester shooting
A Manchester housing association has admitted it needs a “new approach” to tackling intimidation following a fatal double shooting on its land at the weekend.
Mosscare St Vincent’s Housing Group (MSV) has launched a community consultation seeking views on the “proactive steps” it needs to take “to make the area safe for local people”.
The 8,000-home landlord owns the Moss Side car park where two men were shot in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Abayomi Ajose, 36, and Cheriff Tall, 21, later died with gunshot wounds in hospital.
In a statement, MSV said: “Along with our local councillors, we would like to extend our thoughts and condolences to their families and the communities affected by this incident at this difficult time.”
It added: “As a community anchor in Moss Side, we want to work with communities and our partners to harness the spirit of the area and make it a place where people can live, work and socialise safely and without fear of intimidation.
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“We are keen to hear the community’s views on this and recognise that a new approach is needed to address some of the issues that have a detrimental impact on the quality of life of local people.
“Over the course of forthcoming days and weeks, we want to hear from the community and we will work with you and partners to identify the proactive steps we need to take to make the area safe for local people – we have several plans already in place.”
Greater Manchester Police said the shooting took place at an “unplanned gathering” of some people who had attended a pre-planned community event in the area earlier on Saturday, which finished “safely and peacefully” at around 7pm.
MSV said it does “not condone large gatherings of the type and scale seen on Saturday night”, warning that such events “place demands on agencies at a time when resources are already stretched” and “have a very detrimental impact on the quality of life of local residents”.
Police arrested a 32-year-old woman from Birmingham on suspicion of two counts of murder on Thursday evening and are continuing to appeal for information.
Paying tribute to Mr Ajose, his wife Lola said: “He will be sadly missed by all, I am devastated and heartbroken, I am left without a doting husband and a loving father to our three children.”
Mr Cheriff’s family said in a statement: “The death of someone so young, and barely into adulthood is difficult to process, and knowing that he was taken from us in such a brutal way has left us devastated.”
