Younis Khan, a Sheffield Taxi driver shot dead

Taxi driver shot dead

Aftermath: Younis Khan’s taxi, with the driver’s window smashed by gunshots, crashed into the gates of Burngreave Cemetery Picture: Dennis Lound

Nancy Fielder and Polly Rippon
A TAXI driver was shot dead in Sheffield as he returned home from work during the early hours of today.

(Younis Khan as we will remember him)
The man, aged 53, was murdered on Scott Road, Pitsmoor, at 1.45am.

One relative today named the victim as father-of-five and grandfather-of-three Younis Khan, of Abbeyfield Road, who used to own Younis Supermarket on Scott Road.

The man, who did not want to be named, said he was a popular man known by everyone.

He said: "We're all devastated. All we know is that he was shot. He didn't have any enemies. He was well liked and well respected. We can't believe it."

Ayaz Mohammed who used to live next door to him and has known the family for 20 years, said: "We just can't understand it. He was not that sort of a person, he was a quiet, hard worker, a grandad and a father, and all he did was work hard."

Police confirmed today a man was shot dead in his hackney cab. The black taxi then crashed into the gates of Burngreave Cemetery.

A South Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "Police officers were called to reports of shots being fired and a road traffic collision. On arrival at the scene police found that the taxi driver, who was driving a hackney cab, had suffered gun shot wounds."

The victim was rushed to the Northern General Hospital by ambulance but he was pronounced dead on arrival.

A spokeswoman for Yorkshire Ambulance Service said the crew initially thought they were attending a road accident but found a man had been shot.

She said: "We were given a street name rather than an address so we initially thought we were dealing with a road accident."
This morning the area was cordoned off as investigations and forensic examinations continued.

Neighbour Faraz Sharif, aged 24, saidng: "I was shocked to wake up to the news this morning.

"He was a taxi driver so he was probably coming back from work. He was very well known in the area and had been living on the street for over 25 years.

"He had five kids - two boys and three daughters. He was a very nice person."

Rebwal Ishmil, who works at the former Younis Supermarket now called Premier Supermarket Express, said: "He was a very friendly and quiet man who had lived in this area for many years. He was just a normal shopkeeper and he didn't have any trouble with anyone."

Other shocked neighbours were this morning standing near the scene discussing the shooting.

One resident, who did not want to be named, said: "It's not surprising - this is that type of area. I didn't know anything about it until I woke up and opened my door and saw all the police."

But another man added: "I have lived in the area since 1979. It is pretty quiet around here now. It used to be notorious for drugs but the police have cleaned it up now.

"There used to be lots of no-go areas around here but it isn't like that now. It's not an area for random shootings, it's quite quiet compared to what it used to be."

The area outside St James' Church and Community Centre was cordoned off.

Buses using Scott Road this morning had to be diverted and children on their way to school had to use different routes as police carried out an investigation into the murder.

A police spokesman said: "We are appealing for information and witnesses and we would like anybody in the area at the time to call Attercliffe Police station."

Last Updated: 14 March 2007

Inna lilla-he wa ina'alaihi raje'oon.
Condolences to his family. Nice chap, only met him on Monday at Barkers Pool. Nothing more to add than a monumental tragedy. God bless.

Very good man, 100% genuine, we shall and will miss him very much, GOD BLESS YOU MY OLD FRIEND.

You didn't deserve to die at the hands of such scum Younis! So much yet to live for , and what a tragedy. Shock is overwhelming.
Rest in peace and rise in glory, will be sadly missed by all. God Bless.

South Yorkshire Police - Appeal for Information - Sheffield 1
Police are appealing for information after a male taxi driver received fatal gun shot injuries on Scott Road, Pitsmoor.

The man, aged 53, was pronounced dead on arrival at the Northern General Hospital.

The incident happened at about 1.45am this morning. Police officers were called to reports of shots being fired and a road traffic collision.

On arrival of the scene police found that the taxi driver, who was driving a Hackney cab, had suffered gun shot wounds.

The scene and part of Scott Road has been cordoned off and forensic examinations are taking place.

Police are appealing for any witnesses or anybody who was in the Pitsmoor area at the time to call Attercliffe police station on 0114 296 4471 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Two held over taxi driver shooting
Thu Mar 15, 2007 4:14PM GMT


LONDON (Reuters) - Police arrested two men on Thursday in connection with the shooting of a taxi driver in Sheffield.

Younis Khan, 53, died after being shot in the chest in the early hours of Wednesday morning as he drove his black cab though the Pitsmoor area of the city.

Officers arrested the two men, aged 27 and 23, in Sheffield's Upperthorpe and Middlewood areas.

"We've gathered a lot of information and have a number of leads to follow up but we are still in the early stages of the inquiry," said Chief Superintendent Paul Broadbent.

Detectives said several shots had been fired from a handgun at Khan's taxi which crashed into the gates of a cemetery after he was hit by one.

Passers-by tried in vain to save him and he was pronounced dead in hospital.

Police said Khan, who was married with three daughters and two sons, was a hard-working family man and there appeared to be no motive for the shooting.

Friends and neighbours described him as a popular and well-respected father.

"We just can't understand it. He was not that sort of a person, he was a quiet hard worker, a granddad and a father, and all he did was work hard," former neighbour Ayaz Mohammed was quoted as saying on the Web site of the town's paper The Star.

Third suspect arrested over taxi driver murder

By Anna Smith
POLICE have arrested a third man in connection with the death of Sheffield taxi driver Younis Khan.
The man, said to be in his mid 20s, was arrested late last night and is due to be interviewed by officers today.
A 27-year-old man and a 23-year-old man have been released on bail pending further enquiries.
More than 100 officers, including search teams and house-to-house inquiry teams, are working on the investigation.
Mr Khan, a father-of-five, from Pitsmoor, died as a result of a single gun shot wound to the chest in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Police have renewed an appeal for witnesses to the attack, which happened at around 1.45am on Scott Road, Pitsmoor.
Anyone with information is urged to call Attercliffe CID on 0114 296 4471.
Last Updated: 16 March 2007

'Devastating loss' of father of five who loved his job


By Staff writer
THE family of murdered Sheffield taxi driver Younis Khan have spoken of their "devastating" loss and urged the community to support them and help the police catch his killer.
The 53-year-old, described by his family as a "devoted and loving husband, father and grandfather", died when he was shot in the chest as his taxi was hit by a series of bullets as he drove along Scott Road in Pitsmoor shortly after starting a night shift.

Mr Khan of Abbeyfield Road, Pitsmoor, described by police as a hard-working and law-abiding family man, tried to drive after he was shot but lost control of his vehicle and crashed into two parked cars.

Speaking for the first time in statement about their loss, relatives of the father of five spoke of their shock and horror at his violent death.

They said: "Our family are shocked and devastated by the death of a devoted and loving husband, father and grandfather.

"Our father was a kind and gentle man who all his life had been hard working and who loved his job as a taxi driver in Sheffield. Our father was well liked and respected in the community, by all who knew him. Younis Khan was a husband, father and grandfather who did not deserve to die in this way."

The family appealed for witnesses to contact the police, saying: "The family need the support of the community and ask that any person with information contact the police."

The family issued their statement as a third man, in his mid-twenties and from Sheffield, arrested in connection with the murder inquiry, was released on police bail pending further inquiries.

Police continued with house to house inquiries in the Pitsmoor area over the weekend as part of their investigation into the shooting on March 14.

Det Supt Martyn Bates has appealed for anyone driving a vehicle in the area of Scott Road on Wednesday, either just before or just after 1.45am, to contact the incident room at Attercliffe on 0114 2964471.
Last Updated: 19 March 2007