The family of a man shot dead in an armed warehouse raid have led tributes to a “hard-working, loving father” who would always avoid conflict and have appealed for help in finding his killers.
Granddad Akhtar Javeed, 56, of Central Park Road, East Ham, was fatally wounded at his drink supplies business in Digbeth, Birmingham, on Wednesday evening after masked robbers targeted the premises.
Mr Javeed was tied up along with some of his colleagues and shot, according to reports, after two of the men asked him for the keys to his safe. He later died in hospital from his injuries.
A police manhunt is currently underway to find two suspects who fled the scene.
Mr Javeed, who leaves behind a wife, daughter and three younger sons, was described as “a loving grandfather” whose grandchild was the “apple of his eye” in a statement released by his family through West Midlands Police today.
In it the family called on the public to help them “bring closure to our family and justice for him”.
They said: “He was cruelly taken away from us and his young children who will now have to grow up without their father”, they said. “Please help us.
“He was an honest man who valued his family more than anything else. That’s why he was up here, he moved to Birmingham to run this warehouse so that he could provide for his family and he was planning to move back very soon.
“He was very hard-working, loved by many, always treated everyone kindly, and was a good man who avoided conflict. He was a loving father and we were all incredibly close. So please, if you have any information at all, come forward.”
Friends and neighbours also paid tribute as they described their shock in the aftermath of the news.
“At first I couldn’t believe it,” said Zubair Shan, 33, who grew up opposite the Javeed family home in Central Park Road and has known Akhtar and his family for more than ten years.
“It’s heartbreaking. He was fit and fine, I’ve never heard of him going to hospital or anything and then this happens.”
Estate agent Zubair reflected on how Akhtar had become part of his family life, saying: “He was good friends with my parents, he used to come round on special occasions like Eid.
“He was a really gentle, really polite, trustworthy, humble, friendly man.”
Zubair told how Akhthar spent the working week at his warehouse in Digbeth, Birmingham, and rushed home at weekends to be with his wife and four children.
“I just can’t believe it happened to him,” he said. “I hope they get to the bottom of this and they catch the people who did all of this.”
Neighbour Victor Morriss, 64, described Akhtar as a “gentleman”, adding: “He was very, very nice, polite and a gentleman, you don’t find them very often. He was always polite, always smiley, he was a very nice person.”
Acting Det Ch Insp Martin Slevin said: “At this early stage we believe this was a targeted robbery attempt at the business premises in Rea Street South, near to the junction with MacDonald Street.
“It happened at a time when other people may have been leaving work for the day and someone may have seen what happened or have important information about the suspects.”
Anyone with information should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
• Did you know Akhtar Javeed? Pay tribute by calling 020 8477 3886 or email phoebe.cooke@archant.co.uk
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