The daughter of an East Ham businessman shot dead by armed raiders in a “robbery that went wrong” has appealed to the public for help in finding her dad’s killers.
Lilas Javeed also paid tribute to “devoted” Akhtar Javeed, 56, of Central Park Road, who was shot in the neck at his drink supplies warehouse in Digbeth, Birmingham, on Wednesday last week.
The 30-year-old, the eldest of Mr Javeed’s four children, said: “Everything has changed since the day he was taken from us.
“A devoted husband and caring father who selflessly did everything he could to look after the ones he loved is now gone, after having to suffer such a horrific attack.
“It breaks our hearts knowing that his last moments were not spent with us as they should have been.”
“Nothing will fill the hole left in our hearts. That warm, happy, and comfortable feeling we would get whenever our dad was with us will never return.”
Police enquiries into Mr Javeed’s death have established that the grandfather was shot as he tried to fight off the robbers, having refused demands for cash.
Five members of staff are understood to have had their wrists bound with cable ties, including Mr Javeed before he was shot.
The company, Direct Source 3 Ltd, was set up by Mr Javeed two years ago and employed 16 people.
Det Supt Mark Payne described the offence as a “robbery that went wrong” and confirmed the offenders arrived and left in a silver Renault Megane.
He added: “We know two masked men entered the unit at around 6.30pm and were inside for several minutes. We believe the business was deliberately targeted but we don’t yet understand why.”
He explained that officers from West Midlands Police have been “working around the clock” to find the people responsible, and said the men had fled the firm empty-handed.
Officers are attempting to trace a taxi seen driving behind the Megane that evening, as well a potential witness seen walking with a bike along a road near to the warehouse.
Ms Javeed added: “Please, please come forward. It would mean so much to us.
“You can’t bring our dad back but you can give him justice and protect other people from having their lives destroyed.”
Originally from Gujarat in Pakistan, Mr Javeed leaves behind his wife Aisha Nisan, 46, daughter Lilas, three sons aged 11, 12 and 24; and a three-year-old granddaughter.
Anyone with information should call police on 101.
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