At 10.20pm on Monday 25 October 2016, a report was received of gunshots being heard and a man was seen lying in the street on Southwood Road, close to Southwood bail hostel. Police and the ambulance service attended and found 30-year-old Blake Brown, who had sustained gunshot wounds to his head, thigh and buttock. Blake was taken to hospital and was confirmed deceased shortly after 11pm that night.

A number of men have been arrested and released under investigation and detectives continue to appeal for information to identify all those involved in arranging and carrying out the shooting.

Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Mark Baker, said: “We are working as hard as ever to identify and bring to justice all of those involved in the planning and carrying out of this cowardly act of violence, which has caused devastation to a young man’s family and friends.

“We know that Blake’s family still have a lot of unanswered questions, which we are acting on all information provided to help them see justice served. But we still need the help of those who hold information within the communities. If you know anything, either something seen or heard at the time or since, come forward and we will take positive action.

“A long time has passed since the murder of Blake but we remain as determined as ever to identify all of those involved and bring them to justice. Time is no barrier and allegiances can change, so people who may have been fearful in 2016 may have left the area or be in a different situation now. Any information will be dealt with sensitively and you can speak to police or anonymously via the charity Crimestoppers, which is completely independent of the police.”

Anyone who has any information which could help detectives with their inquiries is asked to contact detectives on 0800 230 0600, contact @MerPolCC, or the Crimestoppers hotline anonymously on 0800 555 111. You can also use their online form at: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/give-information.