By SCM Correspondent l 20 May 2026
TWO ruthless gang members have been jailed for life today after executing an innocent mum-of-two in a botched drive-by shooting at a church wake.
Tragic Michelle Sadio, 44, was gunned down in cold blood outside the River of Life Elim Pentecostal Church in Willesden, North West London, when a vicious gang war spilled into a holy place.
Today at the Old Bailey, mastermind Perry Allen-Thomas, 27, and his go-between accomplice Amir Salem, 20, were handed massive life sentences for the December 2024 slaughter.
Allen-Thomas was ordered to serve a minimum of 38 years behind bars, while Salem was hit with a minimum of 26 years.
The court heard how devoted mum Michelle was attending a wake on Gifford Road when a black Kia Niro fitted with distinctive alloy wheels roared past.
Gunmen inside opened fire into the crowd in a desperate bid to hit a rival gang member attending the service.
Instead, they struck completely innocent Michelle, who died at the scene despite the frantic efforts of paramedics. Two other men in their 30s were also hit, leaving one with catastrophic, life-changing injuries.
The heartless killers fled the scene and torched the getaway car the following day on a recreation ground in Wembley, believing they had destroyed all evidence.
The court heard how arrogant gang boss Allen-Thomas went to extreme lengths to create a “perfect” fake alibi.
He was wearing an electronic curfew tag from a previous prison release and ordered a friend to take an Uber journey at the exact time of the murder to make it look like he was elsewhere.
But dedicated homicide detectives smashed his lies using a combination of high-tech forensics and old-school police work.
The breakthrough came when forensic experts pulled DNA from a plastic petrol can dumped next to the charred remains of the Kia.
CCTV footage captured Salem buying the fuel at a garage in Neasden the night before the murder.
Detectives then analysed thousands of pages of mobile phone data and ULEZ camera logs, proving Salem had acted as a go-between—relaying instructions from Allen-Thomas to the gunmen, and phoning the boss just three minutes after the fatal shots were fired to report back.
Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Phil Clarke said: “Michelle’s death was a senseless tragedy, resulting from ongoing gang tensions in the local area.
”Today’s outcome illustrates that the Met is committed to ensuring those who commit acts of brazen violence, impacting innocent people and untold numbers of families, are held to account.”
The Met confirmed that the hunt is still on for two further suspects believed to have fled abroad. Two other men were cleared of all charges last month.