Family devastated as father of six-week-old baby shot dead

The man at the centre of a murder investigation after a fatal shooting has been named by family as Zikel Bobmanuel, as they paid tribute to his mother's 'pride and joy.'

- NICOLE WOOTTON-CANE

A cordon has been in place on Sandywell Street in Openshaw since around 2pm on Saturday, when emergency services were scrambled.

First responders sadly pronounced a 32-year-old man dead at the scene.

His family has paid tribute to the father, whose youngest child is just six weeks old, saying he 'had the heart of his girlfriend in his hand' they are 'devastated beyond belief.'

"Zikel was many things to many people, he was a good friend, a hard-working colleague, part of a large extended family, but ultimately, he was his mother's son, her pride and joy," they said.

"He held the heart of his girlfriend in his hand and was a hands-on father to his beloved children, the youngest just six weeks old. Zikel was happy and fulfilled, he was working hard to provide for his family and was never more content than when he was spending time with them.