A 42-year-old man has been named by police after he was found shot dead inside a car in east London in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
What happened
Police were called to St Bartholomew’s Road, East Ham, at about 3am following reports of gunshots. Officers discovered the victim, later named as Masum Miah, with gunshot wounds inside a vehicle and he was pronounced dead at the scene. No arrests have been made.
Scene and immediate response
Officers cordoned off the entirety of St Bartholomew’s Road. A police evidence tent was erected behind a white Toyota Prius, which had reportedly collided with a black Range Rover. Local residents described waking to the sound of gunfire and vehicle impact.
Abdul Qadir, director of nearby estate agent ARQ Homes, told the Press Association his white Prius had collided with his black Range Rover. He said his daughter heard the shots and the collision.
“Our thoughts remain with Masum’s family as they come to terms with his tragic death. We are continuing to appeal to anyone with information that could assist our enquiries to come forward.”
The quote above was given by Detective Chief Inspector Dan Whitten, who is leading the investigation.
Police appeal
Detectives have asked anyone who was in the area at the time of the shooting, witnessed anything suspicious, or has dashcam, CCTV or doorbell footage to come forward. They stressed that information of any size could be vital to piecing together the full circumstances.
- Incident location: St Bartholomew’s Road, East Ham
- Approximate time: about 3am on Tuesday
- Victim named: Masum Miah, 42
- Police reference: CAD 797/18AUG (contact 101)
Local reaction
Residents described being startled awake by the sound of what they thought were explosions and then heard people running away. One local business owner reported multiple collisions to his vehicle in the area over time and said he initially did not go outside because such incidents have occurred previously.
The visible police cordon and the evidence tent underline that this is being treated as a serious and ongoing investigation. At this stage detectives have not provided further information about potential suspects, motive or whether the victim was known to officers prior to the incident.
Quick reference: key facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Victim | Masum Miah, 42 |
| Location | St Bartholomew’s Road, East Ham |
| Time | About 3am (Tuesday) |
| Police contact | 101, quoting CAD 797/18AUG |
What residents should know
Anyone with dashcam, CCTV or doorbell footage from the East Ham area around 3am on Tuesday is being asked to preserve the footage and contact police. Even seemingly minor details can assist detectives in establishing timelines and movements of vehicles and people in the area.
I visited St Bartholomew’s Road during the morning; residents remained shaken and the cordon was still in place as officers continued to gather evidence. The lack of arrests means the investigation is active and open. Thames-based and borough-level crime prevention teams typically advise people to check home cameras routinely and to report any unusual activity without delay.
The Metropolitan Police has not released further details about the victim’s background or any potential motive. As the inquiry progresses, detectives have asked members of the public to contact them on 101, quoting reference CAD 797/18AUG, with information.
Local communities will be watching closely for updates as the investigation develops and as the family of the deceased come to terms with their loss.
Reporting from East Ham.
