‘Peacemaker’ gunned down in Wembley named by police

A man who was shot dead in Wembley was a “peacemaker” who “had changed his life for the better”, his mother has said.

Craig Small, 32, from Wembley, north London, was gunned down near a shop in Harrow Road, Monks Park, at 8.10pm on Friday, July 5.

He was taken to hospital but died.

On Tuesday his mother Carol said in a statement through police: “Craig meant everything to us.

“He was a loving son, a father, an uncle, he was a peacemaker. He was the soul of the family, he lit up the room and now the light has gone.

“Our family are broken by this, we urge everyone with information to come forward. Silence empowers this violence.

“It is time for this to stop, we need to stand together to put an end to this. Please can anyone who knows anything come forward, we need to stand up now.

“Craig had a past but he had changed his life for the better, he was moving in the right direction. His life has been taken senselessly, he did nothing to deserve this.”

His was one of three gun deaths in London over the weekend. Two men died on Sunday – one also in Wembley – and the other in Leyton, east London.

Detective Chief Inspector Helen Rance said: “A young man has been shot and killed and we need the public’s help to find those responsible and Craig’s family need the support of the community.

“People need to come forward and tell us what they saw, or what they know about these terrible events. We have specialist officers standing by to take your call and offer their support.

“If you want, you can call Crimestoppers and you do not have to tell them who you are, but I would implore anyone with information to make that call. We all need to rise to the challenge and bring Craig’s killers to justice.”

Anyone with information can call police on 020 8345 3775 or dial 101 quoting CAD 9128/5July, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online.