A family's world has been shattered after a devoted father, who was battling terminal lung cancer, was brutally murdered in a senseless drive-by shooting. The tragedy unfolded on Tuesday night outside a pizza takeaway in West Bromwich, an event that has left a community reeling and a major police investigation underway.
A Final Errand Turns to Tragedy
The victim, a 33-year-old man whose family has asked for privacy, had bravely been fighting a diagnosis of terminal lung cancer. On the evening of September 17th, he had left his home to collect a pizza, a simple errand that ended in unimaginable violence. As he stood near the takeaway on Kelvin Way, a dark-coloured vehicle pulled up. Without warning, shots were fired from the car, striking the father before the suspects sped off into the night.
Emergency services rushed to the scene, but despite their best efforts and the efforts of medics at the hospital, the man succumbed to his injuries. His death transforms a localised shooting into a murder inquiry, one of the most serious crimes the West Midlands Police are now investigating.
A Family's Agonising Loss
The man's heartbroken family have been left to process a double tragedy: the cruel progression of a terminal illness and a sudden, violent death that stole their final moments together. In a moving tribute, they described him as a "loving son, father, partner and brother" whose life was cruelly cut short.
"We are devastated by the loss of a loving son, father, partner and brother," the family statement read. "He was our world and we are broken by what has happened. We would ask for privacy at this awful time to allow us to grieve."
Community in Shock as Manhunt Intensifies
The shooting has sent shockwaves through the West Bromwich community. The area surrounding Kelvin Way was immediately cordoned off as forensic teams scoured the scene for evidence, including shell casings and any potential CCTV footage that could lead to the killers.
Detective Chief Inspector Joe Davenport from the West Midlands Police homicide unit is leading the investigation. He urged anyone with information to come forward, emphasising the cold-blooded nature of the crime. "We believe the offenders were in a dark-coloured vehicle which pulled up near to the takeaway before the shots were fired," he stated. "A man has lost his life in the most awful circumstances and we need the public's help to find who is responsible."
Police are conducting extensive door-to-door enquiries and analysing all available footage to track the vehicle's movements. A post-mortem examination is scheduled to be carried out to determine the exact cause of death.
A Plea for Witnesses
Authorities are appealing directly to the public for assistance. They are urging anyone who was in the Kelvin Way area between 9:30 PM and 10:00 PM on Tuesday night, or anyone with dashcam, doorbell, or CCTV footage, to contact them immediately. The smallest detail could be crucial in piecing together the events that led to this devastating outcome.
This incident is a stark reminder of the devastating impact of gun violence, leaving a family to mourn a life taken too soon and a community searching for answers.
