Suspected gang murder victim named - Belfast Telegraph

Saturday, 28 July 2012

A man shot dead in a suspected gang-related murder has been named by police.

Reece James Menzies, 21, was killed in a "pre-planned" attack in Bournemouth, Dorset, during the early hours of Wednesday.

Police said they were called to an address in the Boscombe area of the coastal town at 2.26am to reports of a seriously injured man.

Mr Menzies, from London, was declared dead at the scene after sustaining a gunshot wound.

He had only recently appeared as an extra in a video for X Factor judge Tulisa Contostavlos, a spokesman for the singer confirmed.

Mr Menzies was believed to have links to the Church Road Soldiers, a gang known to operate out of the Church End Estate in Harlesden, north London.

Bournemouth East MP Tobias Ellwood told the Bournemouth Echo the killing was "a spill-over from the drugs turf war in the capital". He added: "This was one London gang chasing down another, carrying out a professional hit and then going back."

Police renewed their appeals for witnesses and anyone with information to come forward.

Detective Chief Inspector Kevin Connolly said: "I consider this a pre-meditated and targeted attack by a number of offenders and I would like to reassure the public that we are taking every step to identify and apprehend those responsible. This is a significant event and it is going to affect many people's lives. My aim is to stop any action like this, prevent it occurring and anybody else being affected. The only way I can do this is for people to come forward and to help us with our inquiries. We know that people were in the area but I need to establish exactly what they were doing. Any information might be of significance and help our investigation."

A 22-year-old man who was arrested in connection with the incident has been released on bail pending further inquiries, police said.

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