Key Points
- Murder Conviction: Aderahman Boumzough, 25, has been found guilty at Woolwich Crown Court of murdering 15-year-old Rene Graham and attempting to murder a second man.
- Broad Daylight Attack: The fatal shooting occurred around 7:20 pm on July 21, 2024, inside a children’s play area at Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance Park in Ladbroke Grove during a crowded family music festival.
- Incriminating Video Evidence: Following his arrest over a year after the crime, police recovered a rap video from Boumzough’s phone in which he lamented his gun jamming during the secondary attempted murder.
- Community and Financial Appeal: A £20,000 reward was issued a year after the tragedy to break a wall of silence, leading to vital witness testimony praised by investigators.
Ladbroke Grove (Extra London News) June 27, 2026 – A twenty-five-year-old man of no fixed address, identified as Aderahman Boumzough, has been convicted at Woolwich Crown Court for the brutal murder of 15-year-old Rene Graham and the attempted murder of an unnamed adult male. The conviction follows a painstaking, multi-year investigation into a brazen daytime shooting that took place on July 21, 2024, within the confines of a popular children’s play area at Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance Park in west London. The attack unfolded in front of hundreds of horrified witnesses attending a community family music festival, sending shockwaves through the local neighbourhood and sparking an intensive search for the perpetrator.
What happened at Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance Park?
The tragic event occurred during what was supposed to be a peaceful Sunday evening celebrating local culture and music. Emergency services, including the Metropolitan Police and London Ambulance Service, were called to the park at approximately 7:20 pm following frantic emergency calls detailing gunfire in an area crowded with young children and families.
According to an official statement released by the Metropolitan Police on Saturday, closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage played a monumental role in reconstructing the sequence of events. The footage distinctly showed Boumzough “calmly approaching” the perimeter of the children’s play area amidst the festival crowds. Without warning, he produced a firearm and discharged a single, fatal shot directly at 15-year-old Rene Graham, who collapsed at the scene.
How did the suspect attempt a second shooting?
The horror did not conclude with the initial fatal shot. As documented by police investigators and detailed in media briefings, further CCTV footage captured Boumzough immediately pivoting his attention toward an adult male standing nearby.
The Metropolitan Police statement noted that the shooter pursued the fleeing man through the panic-stricken crowds, raising his weapon to fire a second time. However, the mechanism of the firearm jammed, preventing any further bullets from being discharged. Realising his weapon was non-functional, Boumzough immediately fled the park on foot, blending into the chaotic stampede of families trying to escape the immediate vicinity.
Explore More London Crime News
Man Stabbed on Coldharbour Lane: Police Investigate Attack in Hayes 2026
London Man Convicted of Disseminating Islamist Extremist Material: London 2026
What evidence led to the conviction of Aderahman Boumzough?
The breakthrough in the prosecution’s case rested significantly on digital forensics recovered long after the night of the murder. Following an extensive investigation that lasted more than twelve months, Boumzough was eventually intercepted, arrested, and brought into custody.
Upon analyzing the digital contents of the suspect’s mobile phone, cybercrime investigators discovered a self-recorded video that provided devastating insight into the mindset and actions of the killer. In the video, Boumzough appeared to perform a rap song explicitly referencing the technical failure of his weapon on the night of the crime.
Lyrics recovered from the suspect’s phone: “Don’t you hate it when your ting jams? I was prepared to take soul, but Allah had a different plan.”
This recording served as a crucial piece of self-incriminating evidence during the trial at Woolwich Crown Court, linking him directly to the specific mechanics of the botched secondary attempted murder.
Why did it take more than a year to make an arrest?
Despite the public nature of the execution and the large volume of people present at the family music festival, detectives faced an immense challenge in gathering actionable intelligence. A pervasive fear of retaliation initially prevented many eyewitnesses from coming forward to speak with the authorities, stalling early leads.
In a bid to fracture the community’s silence, Scotland Yard took the substantial step of launching a public appeal exactly one year after the murder. As documented in contemporary police logs, a financial reward of £20,000 was posted for any verified information that could lead directly to the arrest and successful conviction of those responsible for taking the young boy’s life. This financial incentive, combined with targeted community outreach, eventually galvanized key individuals to step forward.
How did the investigation team respond to the verdict?
Following the delivery of the guilty verdicts on Friday, the leadership of the investigation team expressed deep gratitude toward the small group of citizens who risked their personal safety to secure justice for the Graham family.
As reported by Detective Chief Inspector Alison Foxwell of the Metropolitan Police Specialist Crime Command, who directed the multi-faceted murder investigation, the bravery of the public was the ultimate turning point in the judicial process. In a formal post-verdict briefing, Detective Chief Inspector Foxwell stated that:
“While only a small number of people came forward, I would like to thank those individuals who provided statements and supported the investigation, including attending court, who refused to allow a dangerous individual such as Boumzough to live amongst them.”
The conviction marks the conclusion of a lengthy legal chapter for the Ladbroke Grove community, with Boumzough currently remanded in custody awaiting formal sentencing at a later date.
