Harlesden shooting murder victim officially named as James Owusu-Ajyekum

James Owusu-Ajyekum was gunned down on Wednesday night (Image: Archant)

The 22-year-old, who worked for a shipping company in Wembley, was shot dead outside the home he shares with his parents in Tynsdale Road on the Church Road Estate at around 10.45pm.

Flowers and candles have been left for Mr Owusu, who was also known as DJ Skillzy, by shocked friends and members of the community.

Neighbours told the Times they believed they were hearing fireworks until they saw the blue lights of the police arriving an hour later.

Simon Disney, 31, a neighbour, said: “I heard bang bang bang, that’s it. I thought it was fireworks. It’s that time of year, you don’t think anything of it but later police arrived and cordoned off the road.

“James was a good kid, no trouble, just a normal kid who had just graduated from uni, went to work, came home. He was a DJ aswell, DJ Skillzy.

“There’s no reason for any of this. Everyone around here is shocked, the whole of Church Road is shocked.”

Sameed Ahmed, 21, who lives on Church Road, added: “I grew up with him.

“It’s really upsetting. Out of all people he is the last person who deserves anything like this. He was not affiliated with any gangsters, that needs to be cleared up.

“He went out of his way to avoid that kind of thing.”

Leo Eyo, a pensioner, would see him often as he walked from his own home in Crome Road, said: “He greeted me all the time – “hello, how are you?”

“It breaks my heart. Who would do this?

“He was like a gentle giant this boy, calm, I don’t see him to do any harm. Why should anyone take an innocent boy’s life like this?”

The shooting took place just yards away from where Oliver Tetlow was gunned down on March 9 this year.

The 27-year-old died after a gunman opened fire on Church Road.

On September 9 this year a car parking in Hawkins Road, which is also on the Church Road Estate, was fired at several times. No one was injured.

Wayne Holmes, who moved from nearby Hawkins Road last week, returned to Tynesdale Road when he dropped off a friend the day James was killed. He said: “I was here about 9 O’clock and the whole estate was a ghost town. If you live around here and it’s that quiet you know something’s going to happen, like the day Oliver Tetlow died. He was innocent. James too, he kept his nose clean. It’s really really tragic.”

Detectives have launched a murder investigation.

Anyone who witnessed the shooting or has any information should call police on 020 8785 8244 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.