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Thirty shots in Aston killings
Jan 3 2003
Two teenage girls died as a hail of 30 plus-shots were fired in Birmingham, police revealed this afternoon.
A press conference heard the girls were not members of any gang - they had simply been looking forward to a New Year's party.
They were today named by police as Charlene Ellis, 18, and Latisha Shakespear, 17. both died at the scene outside Uniseven Studios in Birchfield Road, Aston, early yesterday.
Police urged for any witnesses at the party, outside the party or anybody who knew anything abut the shooting to contact them at once.
The Evening Mail is offering a reward in the hunt for the killers.
Charlene's twin sister Sophie and 17-year-old Cheryl Shaw were both it by the hail of bullets.
At the news conference at West Midlands Police headquarters this afternoon it emerged that Sophie is under armed guard in hospital and is in a stable condition following surgery yesterday.
Cheryl, meanwhile, has been released from hospital following treatment for a gunshot wound to one of her hands.
The four teenagers (pictured) had stepped outside the rear of the salon for some fresh air when they were gunned down.
Detective Superintendent Dave Mirfield, who is leading the murder investigation, told reporters: "It (the photograph) was clearly taken by family just before they left the house to go out. The photograph which has been circulated is a poignant reminder of that night."
Mr Mirfield said the response to appeals for witnesses had been "reasonable" but admitted that many were reluctant to come forward.
"There is a reluctance of people to come forward. Whether that is fear or whether that is a reluctance to speak to police, I don't know," the officer added.
Mr Mirfield said officers had established that more than 30 shots were fired from more than one gun, using 9mm rounds - one of them being a sub machine gun.
He said the investigation was looking at the possibility that rival gangs were involved, adding: "It could be gang-related. I would not be naive enough to think it would not be.
"My overwhelming thoughts are that these girls are innocent and were caught up in an exchange of fire."
CCTV footage retrieved from the rear of the parade of shops was being studied with footage from several locations around the city, which officers hope will help them trace the fleeing gunmen.
Detectives believe up to 100 people were present at the party, but many had fled by the time officers arrived, leaving only around 30 revellers at the scene.
Mr Mirfield said the families of the victims were "absolutely traumatised".
"You can only hazard a guess at the trauma they are going through," he added.
A West Midlands police spokesman said a forensic post mortem examination was due to be conducted by a Home Office pathologist today.
A wide area around the parade of shops housing the salon remained sealed off today as police continued their investigation into the killings, which are being treated as murder.
Half a dozen officers stood guard over a cordon at the end of the parade near the hairdresser's which, like most of the shops, was covered by steel shutters.
Detectives are looking at the possibility that there was an exchange of gunfire between two groups at the back of the salon which resulted in two of the girls receiving fatal wounds and the other two being injured.
Today the shocked local community was coming to terms with the deaths as West Midlands Police stepped up armed patrols across Birmingham.
Senior officers described the shootings as "exceptional in their brutality" and "unprecedented".
The gunfire took place at 4am yesterday. Officers and paramedics called to the scene fought to save the lives of the girls.
The salon and the rest of the 20 shops in the parade remained closed behind their steel shutters as police conducted a finger-tip search.
Detectives believe up to 100 people were present at the party, but many had fled by the time officers arrived, leaving only around 30 revellers at the scene.
Neighbour Huler Henry, 40, described her shock at learning of Charlene's death.
Mrs Henry said: "I had seen them both on the evening of the party they were going to. They were getting ready to go out to enjoy themselves.
"They were a very happy pair of teenagers. They were inseparable, always going round together and joking with each other.
"My husband went round to see their mother yesterday and said she was devastated."
