Crime Immemorial

Seventeen-year-old Gabriel Egharevba was described as a “gentle giant,” a tall but fairly shy young man who was nonetheless engaging and funny once people got to know him. According to friends and family, he was a good person who would never have been involved in anything untoward.

At around ten p.m. on the night of January 12th, 2000, Gabriel was bicycling with a friend through Longsight, Manchester, England when the pair began being pursued by two men clad in dark clothing, riding motorcycles or scooters. One of the men opened fire at the bicyclists.

Gabriel Egharevba was shot once in the back before the shooters sped off down New Bank Street. Gabriel’s friend was not hit. Residents around the area came running out of their homes at the sound of gunfire and called police, but sadly, by the time paramedics arrived, Gabriel had already succumbed to his injuries. The bullet that killed him had come from a 9mm self-loading pistol.

Because Gabriel had no criminal record and did not appear to be involved in any shady activity whatsoever, investigators were operating on the assumption that whoever had murdered him had mistaken him for someone else.

The case was the subject of a great deal of media attention and was also featured on the Crimewatch program in 2005, but despite the high profile, no arrests were ever made in the seemingly random slaying.

In 2015, police made a renewed appeal for information and stated that the case was still open. They are hoping that advances in forensic technology will help them to solve the tragic crime once and for all and finally bring justice for the family of Gabriel Egharevba.

As of this writing, however, there have been no further updates.