Appeal following 7th anniversary of the murder of Yusuf Sonko

The mother of Yusuf Sonko is continuing to appeal for information seven years after he was fatally shot in Toxteth.

Yusuf was found injured on Tagus Street in Toxteth near the back of the shops on Lodge Lane at around 8.30pm on Friday, 2 June 2017. He was taken to hospital where he was sadly pronounced dead.

A post-mortem examination later found he died from a single gunshot wound to the head.

So far seven men and one woman have been arrested and remain under investigation and one man voluntarily attended for interview in connection with the incident.

The charity Crimestoppers - which is independent of the police and guarantees anonymity - has offered a reward of up to £20,000 for information they exclusively receive that leads to a murder conviction.

Detective Chief Inspector Jason Pye said: “Yusuf’s murder caused devastation in Toxteth and this week his mum Khadija Sonko has filmed an emotional appeal for those who know what happened to come forward.

“So far, eight arrests have been made and our investigation into Yusuf’s death remains open with a £20,000 reward from the charity Crimestoppers still in place until the gunman is found and brought to justice.

“We are urging those of you who haven’t come forward to please do so now. We know there are names of people being spoken about within the community, but we need eye witnesses to get in contact with the investigation team.

“If you prefer to stay anonymous or are interested in the reward, please contact Crimestoppers. We know that the answers lie within our communities and that some have chosen to stay quiet. Help us bring closure to Yusuf’s devastated family and bring his killer to justice. Whether you witnessed the incident, or feel you have evidence that could help with our investigation, now is the time to speak up.

“Similarly, if you saw groups of young males running in the Lodge Lane area just before 8.30pm on the night of Friday 2 June 2017, or saw two males on pedal bikes in the area before or after, please get in touch.

“Any information passed on to us will be handled with care and sensitivity, and we can put significant measures in place to protect those who want to do the right thing.

“Please help us give Yusuf’s family the answers they deserve after seven long years by reporting any evidence from that night. If you feel you can’t to speak to us then please get in touch with Crimestoppers and give your information totally anonymously.”

Gary Murray, North West Regional Manager at the charity Crimestoppers, said: “We are here for anyone who is uncomfortable speaking directly with the police.

"Crimestoppers is independent and we never ask for your personal details when you contact us either via our website or by phone.

“We know how difficult it can be to speak up about crime, especially violent crime. With our charity’s anonymity guarantee, you can tell us what you know without any comeback.”

Anyone who witnessed the incident, was in the area at the time, or has any information is urged to contact Merseyside Police’s online Major Incident Public Portal (MIPP) via Public Portal (mipp.police.uk). Alternatively call 101 or our social media desk @MerPolCC on Twitter using reference number 0517135977.
You can pass on information anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or use their online form: Giving information anonymously | Crimestoppers (crimestoppers-uk.org)

Please note: With Crimestoppers, computer IP addresses are never traced and no-one will ever know you contacted them. For telephone calls, there is no caller line display, no 1471 facility and calls have never been traced.