A drive-by shooting at a church in North West London, England on the evening of December 14, 2024, claimed the life of a mother of two, leaving two others injured. The incident took place where people had gathered for a wake ceremony.

Michelle Sadio, 46, of Walthamstow, East London was shot as a vehicle pulled up to the River of Life Elim Pentecostal Church in Harlesden and began firing into the crowd. Sadio, who was attending a nine-night wake for 80-year-old Dinah Boateng, who passed away on December 5, had just stepped outside when the shooting started.

A friend of Sadio, who asked to remain unnamed, stated, “The nine-night ceremony was a beautiful occasion to mark Aunty Dinah, who was part of the church’s congregation for many years. There was nobody there who had any kind of gang affiliation.”

Two other men, both in their 30s, were injured in the shooting. A man from Dagenham was hit in the foot, while another man from Wood Green was shot in the back and was in critical condition at a local hospital.

The shooting occurred around 9:15 p.m. during the wake, which was attended by approximately 150 people, primarily elderly individuals and families with children. The unidentified shooter, who remains on the loose, is believed to have discharged a semi-automatic firearm from a black car.

“Michelle was stopped by someone just before she went outside. She was asked if she was going home and said she wasn’t but wanted to take a breather outside. The music was quite loud,” Sadio’s friend recounted. “The first we knew something had happened was when people ran in screaming about shots being fired and people being hit.”

The authorities suspect the incident may be linked to a long-standing feud between two local gangs – the Church Road gang, also known as Crime Scene Boyz (CSB), and their rivals from nearby Stonebridge, known as Thugs of Stonebridge (TOS). This ongoing dispute has lasted for over two decades.

Superintendent Tony Josephs from the North West Command Unit expressed, “This is a truly shocking incident that has left a woman dead and two others injured, and I understand the concern this will cause the local community and those across London.”

The Metropolitan Police has initiated a murder investigation. CCTV footage captured the vehicle as it pulled up and began shooting, and shows attendees scattering in all directions. Sadio’s family, including her children, are receiving support from specialist officers as the case proceeds.

Pastor Lawrence Larbie of the River of Life Elim Pentecostal Church affirmed that the individuals shot had been present at the nine-night ceremony for Mrs. Boateng, a native of Kumasi, Ghana. The event was scheduled to conclude at 10 p.m., but the shooting took place roughly 45 minutes prior.