The family of an innocent student gunned down in a mistaken identity murder in west London have vowed that his killers will be brought to justice as a £20k reward was offered on the third anniversary of his death.
Alexander Kareem - whose sister is a serving Metropolitan Police officer - was shot near his home in Shepherd’s Bush in the early hours of June 8 2020.
He was carrying sweets and fizzy drinks riding an e-scooter as he returned from a local shop. Police believe he was gunned down by someone inside a white Range Rover.
The car - which had fake plates and was stolen - was later found burnt out just three miles away, while 9mm ammunition was recovered from the scene. The firearm was never recovered.
Nine people, including a boy aged 16, were arrested over the 20-year-old’s death but have been released and told they will face no further action.
The young man’s sister PC Khafi Kareem described how the death had left a “hole in their hearts” and that she asks herself daily if she is doing enough to apprehend the killers.
The mother of two, who has a large social media following after appearing on Nigerian Big Brother, said: “Our world has been shattered. I cannot put a plaster on my mother’s heart, the hole will be there forever.
“Our lives have been changed forever. Those who did this think they may have got away with this but they haven’t. This is not over we are convinced they will be caught. They may even hand themselves in, how can they live with this on their conscience? We will not give up. I hear Alex’s voice spurring us on.”
Ms Kareem added: “People in the community know who the killers are. Please come forward, my brother was totally innocent, not in a gang or connected with anything. He was shot by mistake in the most brutal way, we cannot live in a London like this. I have young children how can we accept this? I used to be a person who went out and didn’t worry about anything even if its was late. That has changed now I worry, everything is different.”
Alexander’s older brother Kabir Kareem has spoken of his fear of reprisals from the criminals who murdered his brother but ruled out moving away from the area he was brought up.
He said: “I think that would be letting Alex down. We must find these people, they could be around me in the community which is a frightening thought but we need justice. My brother was buying sweets in a shop and was shot dead for nothing. This cannot be allowed to happen.”
He described how his brother was looking forward to going to university. He had taught himself how to build a computer and was tipped to be “the first millionaire” in the family.
Police are hoping a £20k Crimestoppers reward will help produce new lines of inquiry as part of the inquiry dubbed operation SAVEH.
Detective inspector Rebecca Woodsford said: “We are hoping the reward will help, with the cost of living crisis £20k is a lot of money. Also maybe someone who knows something and has not been to us previously may be in a better position now to give information. Maybe they are older and have had time to reflect. We are determined to get these people.”
