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Published: 28 May 2010
by JAMIE WELHAM

COMMUNITY leaders have united behind MP Karen Buck in a call for calm following the “mindless” shooting of a popular electrician.

Daniel Smith, 22, who lived with his parents and two sisters in the Mozart estate, Queens Park, was killed in a drive-by shooting as he left a takeaway in Harrow Road on Sat­urday.

Detectives said he was a man of “impeccable” character, an innocent victim in a case of “mistaken iden­tity”, but say they now fear the killing could lead to reprisal attacks.

Mr Smith’s family released a statement through police saying the death had “devastated and disorganised the foundations” of their lives, branding the killers “mindless, motiveless and evil”. 

Ms Buck, the Labour MP for Westminster North, warned: “What we don’t want is people marauding into other areas looking for trouble.”

In the days since Mr Smith’s death, floral tributes and banners have been laid at the scene – a reflection of how popular he was in a neighbourhood now paralysed by shock. 

On Monday evening police, council safety chiefs and community leaders met for an emergency “gold level” meeting at Paddington Green police station to diffuse rising tensions. A blanket order to allow police to use stop and search powers without needing “reasonable cause” has been put in place until Wed­nesday.

People living in the area say gang activity is an increasing problem on the Mozart estate – the “SMG Bloods” and “SD Crew” being the most well known. 

Westminster Council has recently begun working with the more hardcore criminal elements of SMG in a pioneering project to try to wrestle the area back from its grip.

Sources close to the gangs say that even if the killer is caught, the act will already be seen by some as a score that needs to be settled. The likely targets are rival youth gangs in South Kilburn, Ladbroke Grove and Brent. 

Jasna Badzak, who sits on North Westminster’s Community and Police Consultative Group, and lives in the Harrow Road, said: “What we need to look at doing is bringing these gangs together, to end the ‘this is our area, don’t come here’ mentality. Also there is a major shortage of opportunities for young people, and until that gets looked at, kids are going to be more interested in running gangs than running companies.”

Ms Buck said: “I was able to attend a high-level police meeting and am assured the pursuit of Daniel’s killers is taking place with the full resources available. 

“There is an ongoing problem in the area, but it would be terrible to ramp this up.”

Noreen O’Neill, who lives in Lothrop Street and chairs the Harrow Road Safer Neighbourhoods ward panel, said: “We have a very good Safer Neighbourhoods team here who know all the kids in the area very well. I am confident in them”

The statement from Mr Smith’s family said: “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, cowardly act. He was a good citizen of his community who loved life. We now pray that God’s justice takes its course.”

Steve Droy, a colleague of Mr Smith’s at West­minster Electrical in Kilburn Lane, said: “It was an absolute pleasure to work with Daniel. We meet a lot of people in our job, hundreds of people every week, and Daniel was one of the nicest guys you can meet.”

Police have arrested two 21-year-old men on suspicion of murder. They have been bailed to return at a date in July. 

Officers are still calling for witnesses to come forward.

Detective Chief Inspector John Crossley, of the Metropolitan Police’s Trident team, said: “As the investigation has progressed, we believe this is a case of mistaken identity. Daniel was a hard-working young family man, who was an innocent victim of gun crime. We know there were members of the public present in the area and would strongly urge them to come forward to speak to us. 

“We really need the community’s help to find the perpetrators and get justice for Daniel’s family.”

Anyone with information that may assist the inquiry should call the incident room at West Hendon on 020 8733 4704, or Crime­stoppers, anony­mously, on 0800 555 111.