Shooting in Harlesden very sad to hear.
I was at home when i got a message from a resident about the shooting and how people can’t go back to sleep due to heavy police presence.
I checked online and it was true a shooting in gifford road at around 9pm this Saturday and one woman tragically lost her life.
What was poignant for me that was a road I’ve canvassed with volunteers several times during my election.
So it brings back memories.
I’m more alarmed they haven’t yet caught the killer.
The woman who lost her life hasn’t been shown yet in time of writing this post, but whoever it is no-one should have to lose their life to senseless violence and my heart goes out to the other victims fighting for life.
What this murder has done is to bring fear to an already fragile community.
Harlesden is vibrant diverse community ,but the other dark side it has high levels of poverty and gang culture and was once the murder capital of London.
Harlesden always unfortunately had a bad reputation I had friends who said they could never take bus 18 through there as they were afraid.
And I even know some councillors who refused to represent Harlesden due to fear.
But I always was proud and knew the residents deserved the best nobody deserves to be looked down on and I always believed the lack of development makes the residents to feel neglected.
What doesn’t get celebrated enough is the area has has famous residents before and has some cool restaurants where you can get some saucy jerk chicken and bangin jollof rice,and the residents look out for each other.
But as they say it only takes one negative to erase all the positives.
I hope residents stay alert and don’t take unnecessary risks in Harlesden or around Brent especially when the killer is still on the loose.
