Mother of Leroy Mitchell urges killer to come forward saying they have ‘broken dozens of people’s hearts’

The mother of a 35-year-old Croydon man who was shot in the head has written an open letter to his killer describing how their actions ‘have left a mark on [her] entire family’.

Crimestoppers is offering a £20,000 reward for that leads to the conviction of the person or people responsible for Leroy Mitchell’s murder.

On October 2 at around 5.00am, Leroy was shot outside a silent disco in south Croydon he had been at with friends.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

In her letter, Leroy’s mother, Maura, describes him as a family man who always had a smile on his face.

She wrote: “Leroy was a cheeky child, and we loved him for it. Even as he grew older, he was always sporting a cheeky grin and trying to play tricks on me – which I would always end up laughing with him about.

“Everyone remembers Leroy with a smile on his face, and his dimples showing.

“Leroy was a central part of our family, and in the weeks before Leroy passed, he was planning to get everyone together. Siblings, cousins, family and friends – Leroy loved us to all be close.”

Maura described how he had been with his fiancée for 17 years, and had three children who he called his ‘mini-mes’.

She appealed for the killer to come forward, saying: “On Monday last week, I held a funeral for the man I describe in this letter – my own son. 

“I cannot believe that, this Christmas and every Christmas after this, my family will be without one of their most valued members, and my grandchildren will be without their father.

“I want to direct this message to whoever is responsible for killing my son: You know who you are. You have broken dozens of people’s hearts. Your actions have left a mark on my entire family.”

“To the Croydon community, and anyone who has information about what happened to my son

“Whilst the person or people responsible for Leroy’s death are free, there should be no silence on the streets.

“Please read my letter. Please think about coming forward.”

Leroy was with friends at a silent disco at a flat in Birdhurst Road, Croydon on the night of his murder.

Police were called shortly before 5am on Saturday, October 2, to reports of a man shot in a car park.

Police arrived with the London Ambulance Service and treated Leroy at the scene, but he was pronounced dead. 

A post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as shotgun wounds to the head.

A 25-year-old man was arrested and released on bail to return to a south London police station.

To support the police with their investigation, the independent charity Crimestoppers is offering a reward of up to £20,000 for information they exclusively receive that leads to the conviction of the person or people responsible for Leroy Mitchell’s murder.

Alexa Loukas, London Regional Manager at charity Crimestoppers, said: “If you have information linked to this murder, no matter how small, I urge you to make a difference and call. 

“Please speak up and help us find the person or people who have taken a father away from his children this Christmas.

“Leroy’s family and friends have been left devastated and are desperate for answers as to what exactly has happened to him. 

“Every single day they have to live with the consequences that Leroy has been cruelly taken away. Our charity is supporting this investigation by offering a reward for anonymous information that we receive that helps solve this terrible crime.”

Information passed directly to police will not qualify for this reward. Only information passed to Crimestoppers using the untraceable anonymous online form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org or via the 0800 555 111 freephone number will qualify.

To contact police directly, please call the Incident Room on 020 8785 8244 and quote CAD1523/02OCT21.