Key Points
- A man has been jailed for 35 years after being found guilty of the murder of 15-year-old Rene Graham and the attempted murder of another man.
- Rene Graham was shot dead at Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance Park in Ladbroke Grove, west London, in July 2024 during a family music festival.
- The court heard that Aderahman Boumzough, 25, calmly approached the children’s play area before firing a single shot.
- CCTV footage also showed him chasing and trying to shoot a second man, before the gun jammed and he fled.
- Judge Simon James described Boumzough as “callous and cold-blooded” during sentencing at Woolwich Crown Court.
West London (West London News) July 4, 2026 – A man who shot dead a 15-year-old boy in a children’s play area in west London has been jailed for 35 years after a court found him guilty of murder and attempted murder.
As reported by the Standard, the defendant, Aderahman Boumzough, 25, was sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court on Friday after the jury convicted him over the killing of Rene Graham and the attempted murder of another man.
The case centres on the fatal shooting at Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance Park in Ladbroke Grove, where Rene Graham was killed in July 2024 during a family music festival.
What happened at Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance Park?
According to the Standard’s report, CCTV footage showed Boumzough walking calmly towards the children’s play area before firing a single shot.
The same footage then reportedly showed him chasing a second man and trying to shoot him, but the gun jammed and he ran away.
The report states that the attack took place in a public park during a family event, which added to the seriousness of the incident and the public concern around it.
What did the judge say?
Judge Simon James told the court that Boumzough was “callous and cold-blooded” when he delivered the sentence.
That wording underlined the court’s view of the manner in which the shooting was carried out, especially given the location in a children’s play area.
The sentence of 35 years reflects both the murder conviction and the attempted murder conviction.
How was the case proved?
The Standard reported that CCTV evidence played a central role in the prosecution’s case.
The footage allegedly captured the approach, the shooting, the pursuit of the second man, and Boumzough’s escape after the gun jammed.
That sequence gave the court a clear picture of the incident and the actions that followed it.
Why is this case significant?
The case is significant because it involved the killing of a teenager in a public park used by families and children.
It also raised wider concerns about gun violence in a public setting and the consequences of such attacks in busy neighbourhood spaces.
The sentencing closes one stage of the case, but the details described in court are likely to remain central to public discussion of safety in public spaces.
Background of the development
This development follows the July 2024 shooting of Rene Graham at Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance Park in Ladbroke Grove during a family music festival.
The prosecution case relied on CCTV footage and the court later heard that Boumzough had approached the play area before firing and then tried to shoot a second man.
The sentencing at Woolwich Crown Court came after Boumzough was found guilty of murder and attempted murder.
Prediction
For families in west London, the case may reinforce concern about safety in public parks and at community events, especially where children are present.
For local residents and event organisers, the sentencing may increase pressure for stronger security measures, more visible policing, and tighter control of violent offenders around public venues.
For the wider audience following crime and court reporting, the case is likely to be remembered as a high-profile example of how CCTV evidence can shape the outcome of serious violent crime trials.
