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Shot ex-boxing champ dies

27/07/2007

A former British heavyweight boxing champion has died after sustaining gunshot wounds to his head and leg at a London club.

The 47-year-old was pronounced dead at 12:39 BST today after his life support machine was switched off last night.

Mr Oyebola was shot at the Chateau 6 club in Fulham at about 00:55 BST on Monday morning in the covered courtyard area at the rear of the venue.

Scotland Yard said his case is now being treated as a murder inquiry and they are seeking witnesses.

It is believed that the ex-boxer was asked to intervene when an argument broke out between employees of the club and a number of patrons who were asked to put out their cigarettes in order to adhere to the smoking ban.

Although Mr Oyebola is employed as a bouncer in another nightclub in the capital, he is thought to have been off-duty at the time.

Scotland Yard detectives are appealing for witnesses to the shooting after three men were seen running away from the club. The suspects are described as three black men aged between 18 and 25 years old.

The Metropolitan police's Trident unit - which investigates gun crime among London's black community - is investigating the shooting. Searches of three addresses in Wandsworth were carried out this morning in connection with the investigation but no arrests have been made.

Detective chief inspector Scott Wilson, from Trident, said: "This is now a murder enquiry and we need the people who were in the club that night to come forward as they may have information that could help us piece together what happened last Sunday night.

"James's family are devastated, I would urge anyone with information to come forward to police and assist us in bringing those responsible for murdering James to justice."

Mr Oyebola was a champion boxer in the 1990s, winning 18 of his 23 professional fights.

A statement made on behalf of Mr Oyebola's family read: "James' family would like to extend their heart-felt gratitude to all friends and members of the public for their unprecedented show of support for James' wellbeing."


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