Gun Chaos in Harlington: Associate Kills Mohamed Muhyidin with Submachine Gun
28-year-old Mohamed Muhyidin was fatally shot in the early hours of Sunday, 31 October 2021, while sitting in the front passenger seat of a car outside a flat on High Street, Harlington. The shocking killing, heard at Isleworth Crown Court, was the result of an accidental discharge by his associate Chiragh Chiragh, who was armed with a submachine gun.
Accidental Blast Sparks Deadly Cover-Up
Detective Inspector Lucy Carberry from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command revealed:
“Mohamed was shot and killed by his associate Chiragh Chiragh who was armed with a sub-machine gun. It is accepted that Chiragh accidentally discharged the firearm as both men were inside a car. What they were doing in this car remains up for debate, although any plans were soon derailed by the shooting. This set off a chain of events that would lead down a completely different path for those involved. Mohamed’s body was dumped and the car he was killed in was set alight as those involved desperately tried to cover their tracks.”
After the shooting, the car was driven to Sipson Lane where Mohamed’s body was abandoned roadside and later spotted by a taxi driver. The vehicle was then torched in West Drayton to destroy evidence.
Night of Terror Starts at Drug Den Flat
Events began the evening before on 30 October at a flat on Harlington High Street known for drug activity. Chiragh Chiragh, Mohammed Shakeel, Mohamed Muhyidin, and a 17-year-old male were present when an altercation with other men occurred. Shakeel brandished an imitation firearm during the dispute, escalating tensions.
Throughout the night, Chiragh carried a submachine gun, while Shakeel kept the imitation pistol. At 4:45am, Chiragh joined Mohamed in a parked car and accidentally fired the weapon, fatally wounding Mohamed. The gun was fired multiple times after Chiragh exited the car, dropping the silencer nearby.
Phones, CCTV and Arrests Bring Justice Closer
Police pieced together the events from mobile phone data and CCTV footage. Chiragh and Shakeel were arrested on 5 November, with the 17-year-old detained on 9 November. All faced charges related to the shooting and the subsequent cover-up.
DI Carberry said, “Chiragh may not have intended to harm Mohamed Muhiyidin but it is clear that he, and his associates, were intent on harming someone that day. Chiragh was armed with a lethal weapon and Shakeel with an imitation firearm prior to Mohamed’s death, which was seen on CCTV. Post shooting, they then colluded and conspired in an attempt to cover up what had happened to Mohamed. All played their part in this tragic story and all have quite rightly been made to face the consequences of their actions.”
Mohamed’s family attended the court trial lasting seven weeks and hoped today’s verdict would bring some peace after the trauma.
Verdicts and Sentencing Date
- Chiragh Chiragh, 39, of Harrow: Found guilty of manslaughter and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. He pleaded guilty to possession of prohibited weapons and perverting the course of justice.
- Mohammed Shakeel, 29, of Barking: Found guilty of perverting the course of justice and previously pleaded guilty to possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.
- A 17-year-old male pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice in an earlier hearing.
All three await sentencing at Isleworth Crown Court on 10 February.
