Four years ago they went out to a party and never came home

A senior police detective has urged witnesses to come forward in a four-year-old murder case, saying anyone who speaks to the police 'is not a grass'. He was speaking on the fourth anniversary of an unsolved fatal shooting in Manchester.

Police have a prime suspect for the murders who is believed to come from Birmingham. A gunman took the lives of both 36-year-old Junior Ajose and 21-year-old Cheriff Tall in the early hours of Sunday June 21st 2020 in a car park off Caythorpe Street in Moss Side.

GMP launched Operation Tarnbrook, but vital evidence to apprehend the suspect who used the firearm is still needed. In a statement GMP said: "We strongly believe the person has connections to Birmingham and is not from the local community in Manchester."

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The name of the suspect was very quickly known by police and the community of Moss Side but he has so far managed to evade capture. Detectives believe he has fled the country.

In February this year an inquest heard the gunman shot dead Cheriff Tall following an argument at a lockdown party and 20 seconds later executed a 'Good Samaritan' Abayomi 'Junior' Ajose, who stepped in to help. The young men were gunned down shortly before 1am on June 21, 2020, at a party on a car park.

Manchester Area Coroner Zak Golombek, recording unlawful killing verdicts, appealed for witnesses to come forward to help bring justice to the families and said: "These were senseless acts of violence against two innocent individuals."

Now a senior police officer has made a fresh appeal. Detective Chief Inspector, Neil Higginson, said: “It’s four years since Cheriff and Junior went to a party and did not return. Their two families remain devastated by their losses.

“We can never bring Cheriff and Junior back, but we can make things slightly better for their loved ones by bringing them the justice they are so desperate for, and we can only achieve this with the help of the community.

“We know that there were hundreds of people in the car park that night and I’m sure that many people must have seen something, whether that be the full incident or just part of it.

“However, there has been a reluctance for those witnesses to come forward with information. I understand that people might be scared, and that is normal given what has happened but, there is a range of measures that we can put in place to keep witnesses safe. Evidence can be given on video or behind a screen. It could also be that we could apply to the courts for the witness to be anonymous if there are grounds to do so.

“I’d just ask for you to come forward and we can have an honest chat about what we can do, as you don’t have to commit to giving a statement in the first instance. The person responsible for these murders we believe is from Birmingham and he is not a member of the local Moss Side community, so should not be protected.

“Anyone who comes forward in this case is not a ‘grass’ for helping the police, they are simply doing what is right for two families who have had their loved ones taken from them in terrible circumstances. No one deserves that.

“When we have worked together in the past, we have achieved great results and if we work together again, we can get justice for Cheriff and Junior.”

Over the years the investigation has seen several warrants carried out on premises in Birmingham which has also led to several people being questioned in custody and the seizure of mobile phones for forensic analysis. A £50,000 reward launched last year, for key information that leads to the discovery and conviction of the killer remains available..

In a statement GMP said: "We remain committed on investigating their murder and know key answers do still lie within the community through witnesses as it is estimated that 300-400 people were present in the car park that night enjoying themselves. The investigation team believes that some of those present would be able to provide crucial eye witness accounts."

Anyone with information, however small or insignificant it may seem, should contact GMP in confidence on 0161 856 2035, quoting incident number 221 of 21/06/20. Alternatively, reports can be made anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Information, including pictures and videos, can also be uploaded anonymously to the Major Incident Public Portal for ‘Operation Tarnbrook’ here: https://mipp.police.uk/operation/06GMP20S30-PO1