Tanesha Melbourne-Blake: Met Police to return to scene of teenage girl's drive-by shooting

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails

Sign up to our free breaking news emails

Please enter a valid email address

Please enter a valid email address

SIGN UP

I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Police investigating the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Tanesha Melbourne-Blake will return to the scene of her murder to appeal for information a week on from the drive-by murder.

Officers will visit the Chalgrove area of Tottenham in north London between 8pm and 11pm on Monday to speak to locals and distribute appeal leaflets.

Detectives said they were “certain” the community had information that could assist the investigation, and assured the public that any information provided would be treated in the “strictest of confidence”.

Ms Melbourne-Blake was in the area with friends at 9.30pm on Monday when she was murdered after a car pulled up and “just started shooting”.

Her mother arrived at the scene before paramedics and watched as they tried to save her life. She was pronounced dead at 10.35pm, witnesses said.

Neighbours and friends described the teenager as “a good girl” and “lovely” member of the community.

Detective Inspector Simon Pickford said: "One week on from this terrible crime, our officers will return to the scene on the evening of Monday, 9 April, as we continue our work to find those responsible for Tanesha's murder.

"I'm certain someone in the community has information that can assist us. Perhaps you are worried about contacting police to tell us know what you know. I can assure you your information will be treated in the strictest of confidence.

"To anyone who is concerned about any loyalties they have that they think means they cannot talk to police, I would ask you to think of Tanesha's grief-stricken family and do the right thing by speaking to us."

It was reported on Friday that gang members had boasted about the shooting in a series of social media posts.

One Instagram post read: “If your chilling with my ops (opposition) I ain't gonna adjust my aim for you". Alongside a laughing emoji, was "#NPK #SINSQUAD".

The “NPK” is believed to refer to Northumberland Park in Tottenham, where the gang is thought to be based.

Ms Melbourne-Blake's death came amid a flurry of violence in the capital. Just hours after she was shot, another 16-year-old was shot in the face in Walthamstow, north-east London.

A further eight people were injured in stabbings, including a 13-year-old boy who was seriously hurt in an attack in Newham, east London.

The spate of recent attacks has now brought the total number of suspected murders in the capital to more than 50, according to London's Metropolitan Police.