The grieving family of a young electrician who was gunned down outside a takeaway shop have spoken about the deep void created by his murder, writes Lorraine King. Daniel Omari Smith, from Queen s Park, was shot as he returned to his car after visitin

The grieving family of a young electrician who was gunned down outside a takeaway shop have spoken about the deep void created by his murder, writes Lorraine King.

Daniel Omari Smith, from Queen's Park, was shot as he returned to his car after visiting the KFC branch in the busy Harrow Road, Paddington, in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The 22-year-old has been described by police as a good, clean-living working guy who lived with his mother and two sisters.

Paying tribute to him, his family have released a statement detailing their feelings of immense loss.

It said: "The tragic loss of our beloved Daniel has devastated and disorganised the foundations of our lives. It is a void so deep and empty our family can never be the same again.

"What a special, hard working, caring and loving person he was.

"Snatched away from us in such a sad and untimely manner.

"Our bewilderment and shock leaves us wondering how to make sense of the immeasurable loss. Our family, friends and community speak as one voice, unequivocally, that Daniel's demise was mindless, motiveless and an evil cowardice act.

"He was a good citizen of his community who loved life. We now pray that God's justice takes its course, and be brought to bear against the perpetrators.

"Rest in Peace, Daniel."

Mr Smith had been out in east London with a work colleague and was on his way back home when he popped into KFC to pick up some food for his family.

His killer struck at 12.53am and Mr Smith managed to stumble back to KFC where he lost consciousness and died later.

DCI John Crossely from Operation Trident, the Met's specialist team that investigates gun crime in London, is leading the hunt for Mr Smith's killer.

Telling the Times he could find no motive to why anyone would want to kill Mr Smith, he added: "Daniel has no criminal connections. He is a good clean-living working guy who was simply picking up a takeaway for his family when he was killed."

The branch of KFC that Daniel visited is open until the early hours every weekend making it a magnet for people returning home from a night out. DCI Crossely is currently meticulously scouring CCTV footage taken from inside KFC and around the area and has made an appeal to the scores of people who would have been in the vicinity to come forward.

He said: "There were people there when he was killed and we need to trace them all.

"They might have not come forward yet for any reason but we really need them to come forward.

"We need people to come forward and help us find Daniel's murderer."

Anyone with information should call the incident room on 020 8733 4704 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Two 21-year-old men are currently being questioned on suspicion of Mr Smith's murder.