Rio Ferdinand's YouTube appeal in hunt for gunmen
England football star Rio Ferdinand has made a personal plea for information to break a wall of silence surrounding the killing of a young footballer in south London.
Family-friend Rio McFarlane, 18, was murdered in a drive-by style shooting in Peckham in a suspected gangland attack on September 6 last year.
Now the Manchester United star, who grew up in the area, has issued an appeal on YouTube urging people "to stand out from the crowd and be the best person you can be" and come forward with information.
Ferdinand, 32, said: "I have known the McFarlane family for many years, so I wanted to help. People need to be brave and tell police who murdered him. It's not grassing someone up, it's giving a family justice." There is a £30,000 reward for information that leads to a prosecution.
Mr McFarlane died of a chest gunshot wound after visiting a roadside shrine for a friend killed in a car crash.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.Four men arrested in connection with the killing are due to answer police bail next month.
