The cordons may have gone – but the fear has not
Sheffield residents are still reeling from the aftermath of three shootings last week (Image: Lyra Auld)
Three shootings, one man dead, and a lifetime of fear instilled for Sheffield residents, as they come to terms with the deadly aftermath.
Looking at the terraced housing plots in Blayton Road, Wensley Court, or Watery Street, there is nothing particularly obvious that would lead you to believe they were the locations of three back-to-back shootings in Sheffield.
The streets seem to be quiet – too unassuming – to even be connected by any kind of crime. Yet, walking through the areas of Upperthorpe, Pittsmoor, and Grimsethorpe, all the residents appear to share the same terrifying anecdote: “It’s not safe here in Sheffield.”
In the span of three days this week, three shootings occurred in the city: The first was in Pitsmoor at 2.40am on Tuesday, September 30. The second was later that day at 10.09pm in Upperthorpe – resulting in the death of a 32-year-old Kassim Mohammed and a murder investigation. The third was a round of shots fired in Grimesthorpe on Wednesday, October 1.
Cordons have been removed in all three locations of the shootings(Image: Lyra Auld )
Residents have been left shaken to their core, and shocked into a stupor of silence and terror with many fearing gang activity. Peeking out from behind doors, shuffling cagily to nearby supermarkets, and walking hurriedly through community parks, not a single person was willing to talk about the shootings or be named in connection with what had happened.
Several residents hanging out of windows in Grimsthorpe even urged us to “go home – it’s not safe.”
YorkshireLive spoke with witnesses to the Pitsmoor shooting, heard first-hand accounts of Kassim Mohammed’s final moments, and visited neighbours of the family involved in the shooting in Wensley Court. No one wished to share any more than they had to – explicitly out of “fear” of gang violence.
Police were called to Pitsmoor after the first reports of a shooting incident on Tuesday, October 30(Image: Yorkshire Live)
One woman, who called 999 after she heard gunshots in Grimsthorpe, said: “I cannot give you my name. It’s too dangerous. I have a family to take care of.
“The attacks make us feel like targets, but I have an older son, and I don’t want him to become the target for anything.”
Others who were brave enough to speak out anonymously echoed the same sentiments. One young mother who lived near to the location of the Grimesthorpe shooting said: “My neighbour and I were literally just talking about it, it’s terrifying. It’s getting closer and closer because there was an incident down the road the other day.
Kassim Mohammed was shot dead in a Sheffield street(Image: South Yorkshire Police)
“If it’s gang activity, I am not being a target; they can literally get into my garden if they want to.”
Even with the promise of extra police patrols, residents remain uneasy. A resident in Upperthorpe said : “I am not letting my kids out to go to the shops alone anymore. It just fills you with this awful anxiety that you could be next. Honestly, I never thought I would see this in Sheffield.”
South Yorkshire Police are still investigating all three shootings. It’s not yet known whether they are part of some wider gang activity, or simply a string of unfortunate – and very separate – events.
Chief Superintendent Ian Proffitt said: “We understand that these incidents are worrying and concerning to hear about.
“We have made significant progress in tackling gun crime in South Yorkshire in recent years and we remain steadfast in our commitment to targeting those involved in this criminality.
“I want to assure you that officers are working at pace to piece together the circumstances of the incident and find the person responsible, and at this time we are treating it as a targeted attack.
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“We are also aware of other recent firearms discharges in Sheffield in the past couple of days and we are keeping an open mind as to whether they are linked.
“The use of firearms puts innocent people’s lives at risk and it is fortunate that no one was injured in this attack.
“It is incredibly important that anyone who has information that could help us with our investigation comes forward and reports it to us.
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“The intelligence we receive from members of the public is vital and goes a long way to helping us identify those responsible for incidents of gun crime.
“We would be particularly keen to hear from anyone in the local area who may have relevant CCTV, dashcam or doorbell footage that could assist us with our investigation.”
The Major Incident Public Portal can be accessed here. Witnesses can also call 101, quoting incident number 1026 of September 30, 2025. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or fill out a secure form on the Crimestoppers website.
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