Cheyne Path murder victim had 4-year-old son

Former St Mark's Primary School Pupil Jason Johnson died after being shot in the chest at around 8.50pm, in an alleyway behind Cavendish Avenue.

The 24-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene, and despite extensive searches by police the murder weapon has still not been found.

It is now believed they are going to cut down hedges in a communal park which is next door to the pathway.

One resident, whose home backs onto Cheyne Path, which runs between Hathaway Gardens and Drayton Manor Road, and the Copley Close Estate, says it is used as a rat-run by people trying to flee from police.

The man, who asked not to be named, said: “The police told me they thought he had been shot further down the path and then been dumped behind our houses.

“One officer saying the bullets looked so misshapen they may have been taken apart or even used before. They also said he had been shot in the back, so I think he may have been running away from whoever shot him.

“The kids use this pathway to escape police as they can't get their cars down there, and it leads onto the Copley Close Estate.”

He also said there were often problems with youngsters racing mopeds along the path, and had even been incidents of people at nearby Castlebar Station being stoned by youths.

The resident continued: “There's a lot of trouble going on in this alleyway.

“We often hear people down there late at night shouting and swearing, but when you ask them to stop they threaten to come back and burn your house down with your family in it.

“When I was coming home on Friday night I saw police at the path and thought there may have been a stabbing, but I was shocked when I was told there had been a shooting.

“There's a real problem in the area, Ealing is really going downhill. It's no wonder as there's nothing for kids to do if they don't play football or cricket.”

He continued: “What we really need is the council to put gates which are locked at night at either end of the alleyway.

“That would stop it being used for crime and causing everyone living here so many problems.”

No-one has been arrested in connection with the shooting and police say they are keeping an open mind as regards the motive.

Anyone with information can contact Operation Trident, which investigates gun crime in the black community, on 0208 733 4707, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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