A £50,000 reward is being offered to anyone who can provide “key information” that could lead to finding the killer from a double shooting in Moss Side back in 2020.
On the third anniversary of the fatal double shooting in Moss Side that took place back in 2020, and tragically claimed the lives of both 36-year-old Junior Ajose and 21-year-old Cheriff Tall, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and family members are once again appealing to the public for any information that may lead to finding the killer.
And this time, they’re offering a £50,000 reward.
Since the horrific incident occurred, a dedicated team of detectives have continued to work “tirelessly” to piece together what happened on Sunday 21 June 2020 when gun shots were heard just before 1am (00:55am) in a car park on Caythorpe Street – but they still desperately need the public’s help to locate the gunman.
The double shooting occurred after a community event in the Moss Side area of Manchester, and it’s believed there were between 300-400 people present at the time, GMP revealed.
#REWARD | Three years on we are still investigating the murder of Junior Ajose and Cheriff Tall in #MossSide and remain committed to find their killer.
That is why now there is a £50,000 reward for any key information still out in the community.
— Greater Manchester Police (@gmpolice) June 21, 2023
Over the years, the investigation has seen several warrants carried out, which has also led to a number of people being questioned in custody, as well as the seizure of mobile phones for forensic analysis, but police say “more is needed to bring justice” to the families of Junior and Cheriff after they’ve suffered such immense heartbreak.
This is why GMP say a £50,000 reward has been made available for anyone who can provide any further details that can “lead to the successful conviction of the killer”.
Despite the time passed, GMP says it remains “committed” to investigating the murder and speaking to more witnesses as it says “answers still lie within the community”.
“Our focus is to obtain this key evidence so that we can convict the person responsible for the murders,” Detective Chief Inspector and Senior Investigating Officer, Neil Higginson, said on the ongoing investigation.
GMP offers £50,000 reward for ‘key information’ that leads to finding Moss Side shooter / Credit: pxfuel
“I understand that people can be reluctant to come forward in this type of case, for a variety of reasons, but I ask that you do so. Please see it that you will be helping the families who are desperate for justice. I or my team will meet you at any time or place. Please allow us the opportunity to talk through what support we can provide you to increase your confidence in us.
“I can also say that we can now offer a £50,000 reward to anyone who can assist with giving us key information which leads to the successful conviction of those responsible.
“Please if you know something, however small you think it may be, get in touch – it’s not too late.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact GMP in confidence on 0161 856 0110, quoting incident number 221 of 21/06/20, or alternatively, reports can be made anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Any pictures, videos, or other information can also be uploaded anonymously to the Major Incident Public Portal under ‘Operation Tarnbrook’ here.
Featured Image – GMP
News
‘Dazzling’ Victorian silver sculpture goes on public display in Greater Manchester after fears it was lost
Emily Sergeant
A long-lost masterpiece of Victorian silverwork has been saved and is now on display to the public in Greater Manchester.
Anyone taking a trip over to the National Trust’s historic Dunham Massey property, on the border of Greater Manchester into Cheshire, this summer will get to see the ‘dazzling’ sculpture called Stags in Bradgate Park – which was commissioned by a former owner in a defiant gesture to the society that shunned him.
The dramatic sculpture of two rutting Red Deer stags, commissioned in 1855 by George Harry Grey, 7th Earl of Stamford, was said to be an ‘act of love and rebellion’.
It also serves as a symbol of ‘locking horns’ with the society that ostracised him over his marriage to a woman considered ‘beneath him’.
“This isn’t just silver – it’s a story,” says James Rothwell, who is the National Trust‘s curator for decorative arts.
“A story of a man who fell in love with a woman that society deemed unworthy. When the Earl married Catherine Cox, whose colourful past was said to have included performing in a circus, Victorian high society was scandalised. Even Queen Victoria shunned the couple at the opera and local gentry at the horse races in Cheshire turned their backs on them.”
Modelled by Alfred Brown and crafted by royal goldsmiths Hunt & Roskell, Stags in Bradgate Park is a meticulously-detailed depiction of nature, and was considered a ‘sensation’ in its day.
Showing the rutting deer positioned on a rocky outcrop with gnarled hollow oaks, it graced the pages of the Illustrated London News, was exhibited at the London International Exhibition of 1862, and at the Paris Exposition Universelle of 1867 – both of which were events that drew millions of visitors.
A ‘dazzling’ Victorian silver sculpture has gone on public display in Greater Manchester / Credit: Joe Wainwright | James Dobson (via Supplied)
The silver centrepiece was the celebrity art of its time, paraded through streets and admired by the public like no other.
Gradually over the years, some of the Earl of Stamford’s silver collection has been re-acquired for Dunham Massey, and this particular world-renowned sculpture, thought to be lost for decades and feared to have been melted down, has miraculously survived with its ‘dramatic’ central component being all that is left.
“The sculpture is not only a technical marvel, with its lifelike depiction of Bradgate Park’s rugged landscape and wildlife, but also a dramatic human story key to the history of Dunham Massey,” added Emma Campagnaro, who is the Property Curator at Dunham Massey.
“It speaks of nature, of craftsmanship, and of a couple who chose each other over status and what others thought of them.”
The sculpture has now gone on display at Dunham Massey from Thursday 26 June.
Featured Image – James Dobson (via Supplied)
News
Lewis Capaldi announces MASSIVE comeback gig in Manchester this year
Thomas Melia
Everyone’s favourite Scottish ballad-maker, Lewis Capaldi, is heading out on tour across the UK, including a massive Manchester date.
Scottish singer-songwriter Lewis Capaldi is ready to tug at our heartstrings again right in front of our eyes as he announces a new UK arena tour.
This huge announcement comes right after his surprise set at the UK’s biggest music event of the year, Glastonbury, where he made a heroic return to the Pyramid Stage just two years after being forced to pull out.
Capaldi is known for writing some of the most notable and emotive hits of the late 2010s and early 2020s, including a long list of anthems such as ‘Someone You Loved’, ‘Bruises’ and ‘Before You Go’.
His monster of a hit ‘Someone You Loved’ has surpassed 3.9 billion views and is the UK’s most-streamed song of all time, so it is safe to say that his presence has been well and truly missed.
To many fans’ delight, the singer has stepped back into the spotlight and is ready to sing his heart out live at a variety of arenas across the UK, including Co-op Live right here in Manchester.
Now, in a post on his official Instagram account announcing this upcoming UK and Ireland arena tour, it’s good to see the Scottish powerhouse hasn’t lost his wit and charm as he jokes, “About time I got back to work.”
These shows are set to be in high demand as the singer has also revealed these upcoming dates, “Will be my only shows in the UK, Ireland or Europe this year! Would love to see ya there.”
On the back of his glorious Glasto return, Capaldi has dropped a huge heart-wrencher titled ‘Survive’ which offers more insight into the struggles and challenges the singer has been facing.
There is no confirmation of whether this new single marks the launch of a bigger project or not, but we can’t wait to scream his hits at the top of our lungs, regardless of when he pays Manchester a visit later this year.
Emily Sergeant -
22nd June 2023 
