Man convicted of murdering 15-year-old boy at London family music festival

A man has been convicted of shooting a 15-year-old boy dead in a children’s play area during a family music festival at a London park.

Aderahman Boumzough, 25, of no fixed address, was found guilty of murdering Rene Graham and the attempted murder of a man at Woolwich Crown Court on Friday.

More than a year passed before Boumzough was arrested and charged.

Police were called to Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance Park in Ladbroke Grove, west London, at around 7.20pm on July 21 2024.

CCTV footage showed Boumzough "calmly approaching" the children’s play area during a family music festival before firing a single shot, the Metropolitan Police said in a statement on Saturday.

Further footage showed him chasing and attempting to shoot a man, but the gun jammed and he fled, it added.

His phone was found to contain a video of him appearing to rap about the firearm jamming, saying: "Don’t you hate it when your ting jams? I was prepared to take soul, but Allah had a different plan."

Detective Chief Inspector Alison Foxwell, who led the investigation, said after the verdicts: "While only a small number of people came forward, I would like to thank those individuals who provided statements and supported the investigation, including attending court, who refused to allow a dangerous individual such as Boumzough to live amongst them."

A year after the murder, a £20,000 reward was posted for information leading to the arrest of those responsible.

Police also published further footage that showed Boumzough pulling a firearm from his pocket before fleeing the scene and attempting to shoot the second victim as he escaped.

Rene’s mother, Janay John-Francois, made a plea for help a month after her son died.

In her statement through the Met, she said: “I cannot begin to describe the depth of my pain after losing my precious angel.

"The emptiness and heartbreak, there are no words that can capture the agony of my loss.

"This is a grief so profound I would not wish it upon my worst enemy – I’ve lost everything, my world will never be the same."

Ms John-Francois also said: "Today is my son, but tomorrow could be one of yours. Please stand with me through the darkest of times."

Boumzough was arrested on September 2 2025 and charged the following day with murder and attempted murder.

His trial lasted two weeks and he will be sentenced on July 3.