Mothers Plea For Window Cleaner

Detectives say the window cleaner and keen footballer, who had no criminal links, was the victim of  mistaken identity. 

Mother’s plea for answers five years after her son was shot dead at home: The family of a man gunned down  at his home in a case of mistaken identity today made a fresh appeal to find his killer. 

On the fifth anniversary of his death, the mother and girlfriend of Ricardo Cunha are calling for answers and asking for help in their fight for justice.

The 23-year-old was shot in the head as he looked out of the window of his flat in West Norwood after somebody knocked on the door at around 11.20pm on September 11, 2010. Detectives say the window cleaner and keen footballer, who had no  criminal links, was the victim of  mistaken identity. 

His mother, Maria Cunha, said: “Five years have passed since we lost our boy and we still don’t have answers about what happened and why his life was taken away so cruelly. Nothing will bring our Ricardo back to us but I want whoever did this to my son to pay for what they did.”

She added: “Ricardo had his life ahead of him, so many plans and it was all stolen from him. I don’t know how on earth someone could do this to Ricardo. Five years have passed but there is not a day that goes by that we don’t cry for not having our Rick here with us. So I strongly appeal to anyone out there that has information to come forward and help.”

In 2011 Metropolitan Police issued an image of a 1924 Webley Mark Six Revolver which may have been the murder weapon. They believe it could have been kept as a keepsake, with the possibility that it may have been stolen in an unreported burglary before finding its way into the hands of the killer. 

Detectives know that the same gun was fired during an incident on the Clapham Park Estate in Brixton three days after Mr Cunha’s murder. Mr Cunha’s girlfriend, Sapna Daby, said: “I do not think people understand the pain me and his family have been through for the past five years. “We are still seeking answers and for someone to come forward with information.”

Detective Inspector Alison Hepworth, from the Homicide and Major Crime Command at Scotland Yard, said: “Ricardo was a young man who was mercilessly gunned down and those responsible for his death have  continued to live their life whilst Ricardo was robbed of the chance of living his. 

“We believe that someone knows who shot an innocent man in his own home. With the passage of time allegiances can change and we are directly  appealing to those who for whatever reason did not come forward at the time to use this opportunity to come and speak to us now.”

Pressure Washer Shot, Stabbed & Killed In L.A.

The victim was helping to pressure wash the parking structure prior to the shooting, according to Lt. Jim Gavin of the LAPD. His coworkers were upstairs when they noticed the water pressure had dropped. When they returned to the truck, they found the victim with gunshot wounds and called police, Gavin said.

Attacker Shoots, Stabs Man Cleaning Target Parking Lot: A member of cleaning crew was shot and stabbed early Tuesday outside a Target store parking garage in Van Nuys. The victim, whose name was not immediately released, was found on the ground next to his Fleetwash pickup. He was hospitalized in critical condition after the shooting in the 5700 block of Sepulveda Boulevard. The man in his 40s, identified by police as a member of a private cleaning crew, later died at the hospital.

The worker was cleaning the lot with a high-pressure hose when the attacker approached from behind and opened fire, police said. His co-workers were inside the building at the time of the shooting and stabbing, police said. They likely did not hear gunfire because of the noise made by the high-pressure washer. "They noticed the pressure in the hose had been reduced," said Lt. Jim Gavin. "They went out to see if he was ok, and that's when they found him with several gunshot wounds."

One person was in custody after the 5 a.m. shooting, according to police. The individual, who was found in the pickup, might have been under the influence of bath salts (window cleaner), a synthetic drug, police told NBC4. There doesn't appear to be any connection between the suspect, who is a reputed gang member, and the victim, who was not connected to any gang, police said.

Man Fatally Shot, Stabbed Outside Van Nuys Target Store: When officers arrived on scene, they found the suspect on the passenger side of the vehicle. He tried to flee the scene, but officers tackled him and arrested him. The victim was transported to Holy Cross Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. His name has not been released. The unidentified suspect, who authorities believe was under the influence of narcotics, was taken to a hospital for medical treatment. Police do not believe the suspect and the victim knew each other. A gun and knife were recovered at the scene.

Target Gun Ban Continues to Backfire – First Murder in California: Well we knew it would just be a matter of time until waves of violent crime started at Target retail stores. Just like Jack in the Box, the so-called Target gun ban has brought forth a “wave” of armed robberies, and yesterday Target experienced their first murder in California.

Yesterday, a man in his early 40′s was shot just outside the Target store in Van Nuys. According to Lt. Jim Gavin of the LAPD, the victim was pressure washing the outside structure of the Target store. Gavin stated this appeared to be a random shooting, and there’s no indication that the victim and suspect knew each other.

Window Cleaner Shot Dead By Ninety Year Old Gun

Detectives investigating the apparently motiveless murder of a 23-year-old will appear on television tonight to release a photo of a gun they believe killed him. The case of Ricardo Cunha – a Portuguese national who worked as a window cleaner and was well-known for his love of Sunday morning football – will be profiled on Crimewatch.

Mr Cunha was watching TV with his girlfriend in the bedroom of his flat in Pondfield House, Elder Road, West Norwood, at about 11.20pm on Saturday, September 11, last year when the pair heard a noise outside. When Mr Cunha looked out of the living room window to investigate he was shot in the head. Detective Chief Inspector Nick Scola, from the Metropolitan Police’s homicide and serious crime command, said: “Ricardo was a young man with no criminal past or connections. “We have yet to find a motive for his murder and cannot rule out this may be a case of mistaken identity.”

He urged anyone who recognised this British-made Webley mark six revolver to get in touch. He said: “I believe it is very likely this was the weapon that was used to kill Ricardo.” The gun was fired in an incident in Picton House, on the Clapham Park estate in Brixton, three days after the murder – in which no one was injured – and was found the following day on the Clapham Manor estate, Brixton. Detective Chief Inspector Scola said: “At this stage we cannot trace the history of the weapon, but it was probably produced in 1924 and is in good condition. “It is entirely possible someone has been keeping it as a keepsake, from the war perhaps, and it could have been stolen in an unreported burglary.”

Victim: Ricardo Cunha was killed in front of his girlfriend Sapna

Ricardo’s sister and girlfriend will appear on the BBC One programme and described how the incident has devastated the family. His sister Lilliana said: “He was very kind to everyone, he was always there for everyone, he was very happy, someone you could have a laugh with. He was just lovely.” His girlfriend Sapna said: “Everything in my life is missing at the moment, because he was my future. “Why would someone want to take his life? “This person has got the wrong guy or the wrong girl. Whoever they intended to get at that night, they got totally the wrong person.” First news of this shooting here.