New suspect details after two killed at lockdown party

Detectives investigating a double killing have released new details of a person they want to speak to on the fifth anniversary of the shooting.

Junior Ajose, 36, and Cheriff Tall, 21, were shot dead at a lockdown party in the Moss Side area of Manchester in the early hours of 21 June 2020.

In a fresh appeal, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) urged witnesses who may have seen someone wearing a black Icon cap with a white logo, and a white Nike Air T-shirt with a small black logo over the left side of the chest portion to come forward.

The force said it was "not too late to do the right thing".

Mr Ajose and Mr Tall, who did not know each other, were both shot in the head in a car park off Caythorne Street shortly before 01:00 BST and later died in hospital.

No-one has ever been charged over the killings.

It was estimated that 300-400 people were present in the car park that night, police said.

Investigators believe some of those present would be able to provide crucial eyewitness accounts to help track down the killer.

Det Ch Insp Neil Higginson said: "We need members of the community to get in touch and help us with some key 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."

He said the person believed to be responsible for the killings was from Birmingham.

"He is not a member of the local Moss Side community, and he should not be protected," said the senior investigating officer.

"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 awful circumstances."

A £50,000 reward remains available for key information that leads to the conviction of the killer.

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