Woman dies and two men left injured in ‘drive by shooting’ after church wake

A woman has died and two people left injured in a ‘drive-by shooting’ after a wake in north London.

Witnesses said a congregation of 120 people were leaving a wake at the River of Life Elim Pentecostal Church in Willesden at about 9.15pm yesterday when ‘at least five’ shots rang out.

Emergency services were called to the scene on Gifford Road in Brent shortly afterwards. One woman, believed to be in her 40s, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Two men, both aged in their 30s, have suffered serious injuries.

One of the men was rushed to hospital in a critical condition, while the other man’s injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

Executive Pastor Lawrence Larbie said those who had been shot were attending a wake for an elderly member of the Church, although they were not members of the Church themselves.

He told Metro: ‘There was chaos and pandemonium. The meeting came to an abrupt end. People knew the persons who had been shot.

‘The whole incident is a terrible event that took place, very shocking.

‘It is the first time that something like this happened on this street.’

A neighbour, who lives on the road in Brent, north-west London, where a woman was shot dead said her daughter had come home just 10 minutes before the shooting.

The woman added the victim did not live in the area.

She told the PA news agency: ‘My daughter came though the door 10 minutes before it happened.

‘My son thought there were fireworks, then I heard my neighbour screaming and I realised there was a shooting.

‘It’s crazy, it’s sad. It’s scary, it does not feel safe.

‘I’ve lived here since 2008 and I’ve never heard anything like this before.’

The Church has been forced to cancel its ‘love feast’ Christmas lunch for members of the church and community, scheduled for today, due to the police cordon which is currently in place.

Police have launched a murder investigation following the shooting.

No arrests have been made and enquiries are on-going, the police said.

Superintendent Tony Josephs, from the North West Command Unit covering Brent, said: ‘This is a truly shocking incident that has left a woman dead and two others injured, and I understand the concern this will cause the local community and those across London.

‘I want to reassure people that a team of experienced detectives are already working at pace to piece together the events of last night and identify whoever was responsible for this heinous act of violence.

‘If you were in or around Gifford Close at the time of the shooting, or have any information about who was responsible, please get in contact with us. A family has been left devastated and we need to work together to provide them with answers.’

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