Taxi driver sought in Birmingham company boss shooting probe

Detectives investigating the murder of a company boss shot dead in Birmingham are trying to track down a taxi driver spotted near the scene.

Akhtar Javeed, 56, was gunned down on Wednesday evening as masked men tried to rob his drinks distributor Direct Source 3 at a warehouse in Birmingham.

Relatives have described him as a "loving" family man and pleaded for anyone with information to contact police.

In a statement released through West Midlands Police, the family said he was "an honest man who valued his family more than anything else".

They added: "Please help bring closure to our family and justice for him. He was cruelly taken away from us and his young children who will now have to grow up without their father. Please help us."

Bullets found at the scene have been analysed by experts at the National Ballistics Intelligence Service who found the weapon that fired them is not linked to any other crime.

Acting Detective Chief Inspector Martin Slevin, from Force CID, said: "This is a fast-paced inquiry as we continue to piece together the circumstances that led to Mr Javeed's death.

"We are keen to trace the driver of a private hire vehicle believed to be a saloon which followed a vehicle with no lights on from Rea Street South turning left into MacDonald street at around 6.40pm.

"We believe this was a targeted robbery attempt at the business premises in Rea Street South, near to the junction with MacDonald Street.

"It happened at a time when other people may have been leaving work for the day and someone may have seen what happened or have important information about the suspects.

"If you have any information that could help our investigation, please get in touch as soon as possible."

Any witnesses should contact police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.