Samuel Adelagun: £20,000 reward to bring boy’s killers to justice 10 years on

Shot dead: Samuel Adelagun was just 16 when he was killed by two men in Plaistow in 2010
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The mother of a schoolboy shot dead a decade ago made an emotional appeal today for help to finally catch his killers as police offered a £20,000 reward.

Samuel Adelagun was just 16 when he was killed by two men in balaclavas while out with friends in Plaistow, east London, on October 23, 2010.

His mother Ola Shokumbi, 52, said the pain of losing her son was still the same as when he died, as she called for an end to the “silence” that has stopped her getting justice. Four men, aged between 20 and 23, were arrested the month after the shooting but no one has ever been charged.

Mrs Shokumbi said: “When I rushed down to the scene, I just couldn’t stop screaming and crying. It was all too much for me, I didn’t even get to see his body or get close to him — my only son.”

Friends and family have attempted to console the mother of three but she said “no one can truly understand — it’s been 10 years but the pain is still the same”.

Police today offered a £20,000 reward to help “bring justice to Samuel’s loved ones”. The Arsenal supporter was among four boys walking along the junction of Chesterton Road and Upper Road at around 3.20am when two men appeared behind them and fired four shots.

He was shot in the chest and a 15-year-old friend was hit in the abdomen. Samuel was pronounced dead at the scene and his friend recovered.

Mrs Shokumbi said: “I’m not suffering in silence anymore because I am one of many mothers who have gone through this and it all just needs to stop.

“The silence from communities, from witnesses and the injustice we as parents face is not right. These people who carry knives and all these weapons need to understand you don’t just kill that boy or girl — you also kill their whole family. The best thing for them to do now is to come forward.”

Detective Sergeant Jason Graham, the investigating officer, said: “I hope, that with the passing of 10 years, and the offer of a substantial reward, someone who has information now feels that they can tell us what they know.”

Witnesses should contact police or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

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