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The mother of a teenager who was shot dead in the street says her hopes are fading that her son’s killer will ever be caught – and believes police have “prioritised” other murder cases.

Cherie Nedd told Sky News that her 18-year-old son Ethan Nedd-Bruce “was just coming home” when he was attacked outside a fried chicken shop in southeast London almost three years ago.

Two men arrested on suspicion of murder were later released under investigation – and Ms Nedd has voiced frustration at the “wall of silence” surrounding Ethan’s death.

It is nearly three years since Ethan Nedd-Bruce was shot dead in Greenwich, southeast London. Pic: Cherie Nedd
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It is nearly three years since Ethan Nedd-Bruce was shot dead in Greenwich, southeast London. Pic: Cherie Nedd

It comes as the brother of a 20-year-old man who was fatally shot in west London voiced fears that his killer may strike again.

No one has been charged over the murder of Alexander Kareem who was gunned down in June last year, in what police believe was a case of mistaken identity.

While the Metropolitan Police are actively investigating both unconnected killings, two former detectives have spoken to Sky News about the problems that can arise in murder investigations that mean some culprits never face justice.

The unsolved murder of Ethan Nedd-Bruce

Ethan Nedd-Bruce was shot dead in October 2018 and his killer has never been charged. Pic: Cherie Nedd
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Ethan was shot dead in October 2018 but no one has been charged with murder. Pic: Cherie Nedd

As she prepares to mark the third anniversary of Ethan’s death, Ms Nedd remembers the moment police informed her that her son had been shot dead.

“It felt like the blood had left my body,” she tells Sky News.

“My knees went weak and I fell to the floor. I was in absolute shock.”

Nearly three years on, Ms Nedd says there has been “no progress” in the investigation.

“For us, it’s been a really painful time,” she says. “I live with that pain every day.

“I feel other cases are prioritised over it.

“There are other murders being solved after Ethan.

“The hope is diminishing.”

Ethan Nedd-Bruce pictured with his mother Cherie: Pic: Cherie Nedd
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Cherie Nedd says she lives with ‘pain every day’ over her son’s murder: Pic: Cherie Nedd

‘Young black boys in London – nobody sees their lives as important’

Ethan was killed in Greenwich on 22 October 2018 after he was involved in an altercation with a gang of men who then chased him on a motorbike and in a silver Ford Kuga car.

The Met Police described the shooting as a “targeted attack linked to a number of other incidents in the area between two criminal groups”.

However Ms Nedd insists her son was in the “wrong place, at the wrong time”, having recently moved to the area from north London.

She says there was “no retaliation” after he was killed which proves he was not involved in gangs.

Two men, aged 24 and 34, were arrested on suspicion of murder last year but were later released under investigation.

Meanwhile, police have confirmed that a potential key witness whose image they released last year has not yet been tracked down.

Police released this image of a potential key witness last year but he has yet to be tracked down. Pic: Met Police
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Police released this image of a potential key witness last year but he has yet to be tracked down. Pic: Met Police

A £20,000 reward is now on offer for information that leads to the conviction of Ethan’s killer.

Ms Nedd says she was told by police there were “no further updates” when she last received information on the progress of the investigation six weeks ago.

“It’s completely frustrating because I know somebody knows something,” she adds.

“More has to be done to get that information and break that wall of silence.”

Ms Nedd says the murder of Sarah Everard in March was quickly solved “and a lot of people got behind that”.

“I don’t see that support for other victims when they’re of a particular demographic, which is really sad,” she adds.

Ethan Nedd-Bruce pictured with his mother Cherie: Pic: Cherie Nedd
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Ms Nedd says she has faced a ‘wall of silence’ over Ethan’s murder: Pic: Cherie Nedd

“Young black boys in London – nobody sees their lives as important.

“It tends to be the cases of young black boys, sadly, where the perpetrators are not found.

“Why is that? That’s the question we have to ask.

“People are not up in arms about it.”

The unsolved murder of Alexander Kareem

Alexander Kareem was murdered as he made his way to a friend’s house in Shepherd’s Bush on 8 June 2020.

It is thought a white Range Rover drove past the 20-year-old and shots were fired from it, with the vehicle later found burned out in Ealing, west London.

Alexander Kareem, 20, was shot dead in west London in June 2020
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Alexander Kareem was shot dead in west London in June 2020
Alexander Kareem's sister Khafi (left) and mother Victoria during his burial in July
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Alexander’s sister Khafi (left) and mother Victoria during his burial in July

Nine people – including a 16-year-old boy – were arrested over the murder but five were released under investigation and four were freed with no further action.

Alexander’s brother Kabir has now voiced concerns that his brother’s killer remains at large and could murder someone else.

“We need people to come forward,” he tells Sky News.

“There’s a sense of frustration and anger knowing somebody could do that and they’re still out there.

“At the same time, there’s worry that they could do it to someone else.

Alexander Kareem, 20, was shot dead in west London in June 2020
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No one has been charged over Alexander’s murder

“My brother wasn’t the intended target. That just means the target is still out there. They’ll probably go out there to try to kill someone else.

“It’s frustrating and it makes me angry, in a personal sense, as I want justice for my brother.

“You also know there’s someone out there who is willing and able to commit dangerous crimes.”

Mr Kareem says it is “in the back of my mind” that he may unwittingly come into contact with his brother’s killer.

“Because the case has been online and on TV, they’ll probably know who I am – but I won’t know who they are,” he says.

“I’m not going to live my life worried I might bump into people.”

Alexander Kareem was shot dead in west London. Pic: Kabir Kareem
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Alexander’s family say the want ‘justice’ over his murder. Pic: Kabir Kareem

More than a year after his brother’s death, Mr Kareem says he is still “hopeful” that the killer will be caught.

“Whether that will happen is a whole different story,” he adds.

How can murders go unsolved?

Former Met Police detective Clive Driscoll, who worked as a senior investigator on the Stephen Lawrence case, says a high proportion of murder cases are solved but they can falter for “a variety of reasons”.

“It could be that witnesses are scared to come forward,” the former detective chief inspector tells Sky News.

“I remember in one of my cases they said it was ‘a wall of silence’. It was never a wall of silence, it was a wall of fear.

“People were scared to come forward.”

Mr Driscoll says cases may involve a lack of CCTV evidence or there could be poor quality footage that means officers cannot identify suspects.

The shooting happened in Shepherd's Bush, west London, in June last year
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Alexander Kareem was shot dead in Shepherd’s Bush, west London

Meanwhile, a case where the murder weapon is not recovered means forensic evidence is missing, he adds.

“There are many, many reasons why a murder investigation might stall,” Mr Driscoll says.

“Gun crime can be difficult purely because of the fear factor.

“Usually gun crime is connected to serious organised crime. The witnesses could be reluctant to become involved.”

Which murders are more likely to go unsolved?

Stuart Gibbon, a former Met detective, says police never “completely” close an unsolved murder case and it gets “periodically reviewed”.

He tells Sky News: “There are actually quite a lot of unsolved cases out there – not so many murders, but unsolved cases where police go through all their lines of inquiry and draw a blank for one reason or another.

“The longer it goes on without being able to identify those responsible, the harder it becomes and the less likelihood there is that you are going to be detected.”

Mr Gibbon says CCTV evidence alone is often not enough to arrest and charge murder suspects.

“Unless you can identify those people or tie it in with other evidence, on its own it’s not always enough,” the former senior investigating officer adds.

“It’s fair to say anything that involves gangs – where a group of people have been involved and the community knows what happened… but for one reason or another, they are not willing to share that with the police – they are the most challenging.”

However Mr Gibbon believes it is more difficult than ever before for criminals to get away with murder.

“The rate now is higher than it’s ever been in terms of arrests, detention and I would say convictions as well,” he says.

“The investigations are generally very, very thorough.

“If you can find the motive, then the person responsible often comes off the back of that.”

What have the Metropolitan Police said?

In relation to Ethan’s murder, Detective Chief Inspector Richard Leonard, who is leading the investigation, said: “Our thoughts continue to remain with Ethan’s family who we know are heartbroken following the loss of their son.

“We understand that they need answers and we too are still searching for the truth as to what happened on the evening of 22 October 2018.

“We have not given up – this remains an active murder investigation and we would again ask anyone who may be able to assist us to come forward.”

The Met Police told Sky News it is currently actively investigating 280 murders dating back to 1974.

A further 245 cases of homicide – meaning murders or manslaughters – remain open but inactive because all reasonable current lines of inquiry have been investigated, the force added.

“We never close a murder investigation and will review any new information received in relation to these,” a Met Police spokeswoman said.

Last year, the force said it investigated 126 homicides and charges were brought in 121 of those cases.

“Our specialist teams continue to investigate the five remaining cases,” the spokeswoman added.

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King praises response to ‘lawless’ UK riots in Christmas message – as he gives ‘personal’ thanks to medics

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King praises response to 'lawless' UK riots in Christmas message - as he gives 'personal' thanks to medics

The King has praised the community response to the “anger and lawlessness” of this summer’s riots in towns and cities around the UK in his annual Christmas message.

Charles, 76, also used the message, filmed by Sky News at the chapel of the former Middlesex Hospital in central London, to thank doctors and nurses who cared for him and his daughter-in-law the Princess of Wales through their cancer treatment this year.

Drawing on the Nativity story’s theme of listening to others, the King said: “Through listening, we learn to respect our differences, to defeat prejudice, and to open up new possibilities.

“I felt a deep sense of pride here in the United Kingdom when, in response to anger and lawlessness in several towns this summer, communities came together, not to repeat these behaviours, but to repair.

“To repair not just buildings, but relationships. And, most importantly, to repair trust; by listening and, through understanding, deciding how to act for the good of all.”

King Charles and Queen Camilla followed by  the Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte, the Prince of Wales and Prince George attending the Christmas Day.
Pic: PA
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King Charles and Queen Camilla attend church at Sandringham on Christmas morning. Pic: PA

Read more:
Sky News behind the scenes of King’s message
King jokes he’s ‘still alive’

Almost 1,000 people were arrested during the summer riots, which came in response to misinformation around the deadly stabbing of three children at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club in Southport in July.

The King visited the Merseyside town after the killings and the ensuing disorder, during which rioters attacked hotels housing migrants.

His final public engagement of the year was in Walthamstow, east London, where thousands gathered in a counter-protest to condemn the rioting this summer.

The King’s Christmas message spoke of the need to support one another, as “all of us go through some form of suffering at some stage in our life – be it mental or physical”.

“The degree to which we help one another – and draw support from each other, be we people of faith or of none – is a measure of our civilisation as nations,” he said.

He added that “those who dedicate their lives to helping others… continually impress me” and he is “thinking especially of the many thousands of professionals and volunteers here in the United Kingdom and across the Commonwealth who, with their skills and out of the goodness of their heart, care for others – often at some cost to themselves”.

Pic: PA
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The Prince and Princess of Wales with their children Louis, Charlotte and George on Christmas Day. Pic: PA

Reflecting on his cancer treatment, which will continue into next year, he gave his “special, heartfelt thanks to the selfless doctors and nurses who, this year, have supported me and other members of my family through the uncertainties and anxieties of illness, and have helped provide the strength, care and comfort we have needed”.

He also thanked members of the public for their well-wishes after he and the Princess of Wales, 42, returned to public duties in April and September respectively – following courses of cancer treatment.

They and other members of the Royal Family attended church near the Sandringham estate in Norfolk on Christmas morning.

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How Sky News filmed the King’s message

Thoughts with people in ‘Middle East, central Europe and Africa’

The King began his message by recalling his visit to 80th anniversary D-Day commemorations with the Queen in June.

He described meeting “remarkable veterans” and noted that “during previous commemorations we were able to console ourselves with the thought that these tragic events seldom happen in the modern era”.

But he said: “On this Christmas Day, we cannot help but think of those for whom the devastating effects of conflict – in the Middle East, in central Europe, in Africa and elsewhere – pose a daily threat to so many people’s lives and livelihoods.”

He thanked humanitarian organisations working in conflict zones and referenced the gospels’ references to conflict and the “values with which we can overcome” them.

Signing off, he wished “you and all those you love a most joyful and peaceful Christmas”.

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Man arrested for ‘attempted murder’ after car drives into group on London pavement

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Man arrested for 'attempted murder' after car drives into group on London pavement

A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a car was driven on to the pavement in central London in the early hours of Christmas Day.

Four people were taken to hospital after the incident on Shaftesbury Avenue, with one said to be in a life-threatening condition.

Metropolitan Police officers were called to reports of a crash and a car driving on the wrong side of the road at 12.45am.

In a statement, police said the incident was isolated and not terror related.

A cordon is in place outside the Sondheim Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue, which is the London home of the musical Les Miserables. Shaftesbury Avenue is at the heart of London‘s West End and the city’s theatre district.

Blood, a jacket, pair of shoes and a hat are visible on the pavement inside the cordon.

Read more from Sky News:
Armed police shoot and kill man on Christmas Eve
Dozens dead as plane crashes in Kazakhstan

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundy said the force “responded quickly” and arrested a man “within minutes”.

“It’s believed that the suspect was involved in an altercation at a nightclub prior to getting in his car and mounting the pavement,” he added.

Officers are appealing for anyone with information relating to the incident to get in touch.

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Man, 39, shot dead by armed police in Redditch

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Man, 39, shot dead by armed police in Redditch

A man with a knife was shot dead by armed police in Redditch after “several hours” of negotiations on Christmas Eve, police have said.

West Mercia Police were called to a property in Fownhope Close, Redditch, at around 2pm on Christmas Eve to reports of a man with a knife.

Police negotiators arrived at the scene in Worcestershire and “attempts were made to resolve the situation by engaging the man over several hours”.

But at 7.40pm the 39 year old was shot by armed police – and he was pronounced dead just after 8pm.

No one else was inside the property at the time, the force added.

A mandatory referral to the police watchdog – the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) – has been made and an investigation been launched.

West Mercia Police’s assistant chief constable Grant Willis described it as a “tragic incident”.

More on Worcestershire

“We do not underestimate the shock and concern this may cause the local community and I want to reassure residents that we are following all appropriate procedures, this included making an immediate referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), as is mandatory and right,” he said.

“We will support their investigation, which will include providing all information we hold, including body worn camera footage.”

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