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Published: 09 July 2010
by JAMIE WELHAM

POLICE have taken the unusual step of offering a £20,000 reward for information about the murder of Daniel Smith.

The 22-year old electrician was shot dead after leaving KFC, in Harrow Road, shortly after midnight of May 22.

Detectives believe Mr Smith was the victim of mistaken identity in a gang dispute being fought between groups on the nearby Mozart and South Kilburn estates.

They have released CCTV images of three men seen in the area around the time of the incident who are believed to be vital to solving the case. 

A wall of silence has confronted police since the incident. 

The renewed appeal follows an appearance by Mr Smith’s family on Crimewatch earlier on Monday. Speaking on the BBC1 show, his mother, Winnie, who lives in Severn Avenue on the Mozart estate said: “This is my worst nightmare. He was lying on the floor dead, with no family close to him. I wanted to hold and cuddle him. My life has changed in a way I would never have been able to imagine. It’s as if my family stood on four pillars and one has been removed.”

Last month, DCI Mark Brookes, from Operation Trident, said he had identified the intended targets – two youths who were in the KFC when the gunman opened fire. 

Ballistics officers also traced the bullet recovered from Mr Smith’s body to other gang-rel­ated shootings, although they have yet to find the murder weapon.

DCI Brookes said: “The Smiths were a very close family – Daniel’s mum and two sisters are just devastated, as are Daniel’s friends and the rest of his family. He ­really was a very well liked young man, hardworking, and ambitious. He’d never been in trouble with the police and we should reiterate that we strongly believe this was a case of mistaken iden­tity. If anyone has information on the men in the two images, we would urge them to come forward.”

Anyone with information should call the incident room on 020 8733 7404
or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.