Tributes paid to 'loving father' killed in warehouse shooting

Murdered: Akhtar Javeed
West Midlands Police
Hannah Al-Othman5 February 2016
WEST END FINAL

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The family of a man who was shot dead during an attempted robbery in Birmingham have said the "loving father" was planning a move back to London when he was killed.

Akhtar Javeed, 56, from West Ham, was killed as masked men attempted to rob his warehouse in Digbeth.

Mr Javeed was fatally shot when the raiders targeted Direct Source 3 Ltd in Rea Road South just before 6.40pm on Wednesday.

On Friday his family described him as an honest man who valued his family more than anything else, and said he had moved to Birmingham to provide for his children.

They issued a heartfelt plea for anyone with information about Mr Javeed's death to help police with their investigation.

Police at Mr Javeed's business, where the shooting took place Joe Giddens/PA Wire
Joe Giddens/PA Wire

In a statement they said: “He’s left behind a wife, a daughter and three younger sons, two of which are still so young and in school. He was a loving grandfather and his grandchild was the apple of his eye.

“He was an honest man who valued his family more than anything else. That’s why he was up here, he moved to Birmingham to run this warehouse so that he could provide for his family and he was planning to move back very soon.

“He was very hard-working, loved by many, always treated everyone kindly, and was a good man who avoided conflict.

“He was a loving father and we were all incredibly close. So please, if you have any information at all, come forward.

“Please help bring closure to our family and justice for him. He was cruelly taken away from us and his young children who will now have to grow up without their father. Please help us.”

Detectives have launched a murder investigation following the botched robbery, and have urged anyone with information to contact police.

Forensics officers at the scene  Joe Giddens/PA Wire
Joe Giddens/PA Wire

Acting Detective Chief Inspector Martin Slevin, from Force CID, said: “We believe this was a targeted robbery attempt at the business premises in Rea Street South, near to the junction with MacDonald Street.

“It happened at a time when other people may have been leaving work for the day and someone may have seen what happened or have important information about the suspects.

“If you have any information that could help our investigation, please get in touch as soon as possible."

Any witnesses should contact police on 101 or call the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

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