The 19-year-old RAF cadet who was shot dead near the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is the 11th teenager to be killed on London’s streets this year.
As police launch a murder investigation, Abdul Mayanja’s family have paid respects to their beacon of light and called for an end to the violence in the capital.
Detectives are trying to trace two women Mayanja is believed to have been with before he was shot in Newham on Friday evening, though no arrests have been made.
His father Kidza said his son, who was due to move to California to finish his training, was ‘destined to fly in the RAF’ after beginning to fly at 338 West Ham Squadron air cadets.
Abdul Mayanja was shot dead near the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is the 11th teenager to be killed on London’s streets this year
Mayanja’s family have paid respects to their beacon of light and called for an end to the violence in the capital
‘He was a responsible young man and couldn’t stop making new friends,’ Business consultant Kidza, 58, told the Standard.
‘Our boy went to a barbecue and never came home. The killer is still out there. We want justice but no more bloodshed. We don’t want any other family to feel the pain we have to feel.’
His mother, who did not wish to be named, said they wanted him back early because they knew ‘trouble can happen’ on bank holiday weekends.
‘I had this sense of pride in him as he left the front door that day,’ she said. ‘A couple of hours later I was looking at his lifeless body.
‘All I want is whoever killed my son to be found. I’m scared for my other children. We are going to have to rob them of their freedoms and keep them safe inside after what happened to Abdul.’
Armed police and paramedics attended the scene in Well Lane at 10.40pm after being called to reports of shots fired.
His father Kidza said his son, who was due to move to California to finish his training, was ‘destined to fly in the RAF’
Detectives are trying to trace two women Mayanja is believed to have been with before he was shot in Newham on Friday evening
Mr Mayanja was rushed to an east London hospital but he later died in hospital.
A gofundme page has been set up to raise money for Mr Mayanja’s family, which describes him as a ‘wonderful man’ and suggests he could have been targeted because of something he was carrying or where he was from.
A message on the page reads: ‘Help raise money for the Mayanja family who lost their son, Abdul.
‘Abdul was a great person to everyone he was loved and cherished, a great older Brother & Son & A outstanding Brother to all his peers & fellow RAF members.
‘His death was a shock to many people, our society is coming to a stage where young teens are targeted because of their belongings & where they are from.’
A post-mortem examination is yet to be held. Detective Chief Inspector Will Reynolds, who is leading the investigation, said: ‘I am appealing for any witnesses or anyone with any information about the attack on Abdul to contact our incident room.
Armed police and paramedics attended the scene in Well Lane at 10.40pm after being called to reports of shots fired
‘We know he left his home address in his car at around 2200 hours and was then found injured by officers at 2240 hours, so we are keen to establish who he was with and his movements during that time.
‘We know from information we have been provided with so far that he may have been in the company of two women, described as black. If you are those women we want to hear from you. I understand that they may be scared or reluctant to come forward but it is vital that we hear from them.’
- Any witnesses or anyone with any information is urged to contact the incident room on 020 8721 4005, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.