A man has been sentenced to 35 years in prison for the murder of a 15-year-old boy and the attempted murder of another man in a shooting that occurred before the Notting Hill Carnival. Aderahman Boumzough, 25, was handed a sentence of 35 years and 169 days at Woolwich Crown Court on Friday.
Boumzough was found guilty of murdering Rene Graham and the attempted murder of another individual on July 21, 2024. CCTV footage showed Boumzough, who has no fixed address, drawing a handgun in Emslie Horniman's Pleasance open space, also known as Teletubbies Park, and firing at Rene Graham. The teenager was shot in the chest in front of families and children. Boumzough was then seen chasing and attempting to shoot a second man, but the firearm jammed, and he fled the scene.
More than a year elapsed before Boumzough was arrested and charged in connection with Rene Graham's death on September 2, 2025. The shooting took place during an annual event preceding the Notting Hill Carnival and has been linked by locals to a postcode war between rival gangs.
Judge Simon James, in his sentencing remarks, emphasized that Rene Graham, at 15 years old, was robbed of his future. He noted the profound grief expressed by Rene's family, stating that no parent should endure the agony of losing a child to such violence. The judge described Boumzough's actions as "callous and cold-blooded conduct in gunning down and killing an unarmed and defenceless teenager in what amounted to a premeditated public execution."
Boumzough offered no explanation or motive for the violence and showed no remorse. Video footage recovered from his phone appeared to show him expressing pride in his actions, rapping about the firearm jamming. The judge stated that Boumzough was "proud and boastful" about his crimes.
The incident occurred near the boundary of the W10 and W9 postcodes, an area reportedly affected by a long-running conflict between groups known as the Ladbroke Grove Boys and the Harrow Road Boys. Residents have described ongoing issues and gang activity in the vicinity.
Rene Graham's mother, Janay John-Francois, had previously made a public appeal for information following her son's murder, with Crimestoppers offering a reward for information leading to an arrest. In a statement, she described her "emptiness and heartbreak" and the profound grief of losing her son, stating, "Today is my son, but tomorrow could be one of yours."
