First Picture of ‘Generous’ Ice Cream Man Stabbed to Death in Wembley
The first photo has emerged of Shazad Khan, a much-loved ice cream man who was stabbed to death while working his regular route in north west London. The 41-year-old father-of-one was killed in Monks Park, Wembley, close to his home, in what police are treating as a targeted attack.
Emergency crews were called at 6:15 p.m. after Khan was found critically injured in his ice cream van. Despite attempts to save him, he was pronounced dead at the scene. Witnesses claim he was stabbed “eight times” before collapsing.
A 26-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder, while a 31-year-old woman was detained at the scene on suspicion of conspiracy to murder. Both remain in police custody.
Shazad Khan had become a well-known figure in the Tokyngton area since he began selling ice cream last year. His van, recognized for its teddy bear in the passenger seat, was a regular sight in local parks and streets. Friends and neighbors described him as generous, kind-hearted, and deeply devoted to his young daughter.
Sara, a close friend, said she had spoken to Khan just the day before his death. “He was an amazing person… He was talking about his little daughter. She is a beautiful little girl,” she told Metro. “He would give free ice cream to kids at the park all the time. He had the best smile. I’m still in shock, I can’t get any sleep from all the crying.”
Another local resident, Asim Mahmood Butt, said Khan was well-known in the neighborhood: “He was a famous ice cream guy here. We don’t know the reason why, but I’ve been told a guy in a grey hoodie stabbed him eight times. His brothers are all local. We grew up together playing cricket and football in Monks Park.”
The ice cream van, parked at the side of the road at the time of the attack, was towed away by police in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams said the community’s grief is being taken seriously: “Our thoughts remain with Shazad’s family and friends at this unimaginably difficult time. This incident will rightly cause concern across the community, but intelligence at this stage leads us to believe there is no wider threat to the public.”
For those who knew him, Khan’s loss is immeasurable. Neighbors say his generosity and warmth touched many lives, from children receiving free ice cream to friends who remembered his constant positivity.
The investigation into his death remains ongoing as the Wembley community mourns the loss of a man many saw not just as their ice cream man, but as a friend.
