Byron Cole

The murder of Anthony Morrison by Byron Cole is a highly publicised case from South London. The crime shocked the local community due to its brazen nature—occurring in broad daylight outside a funeral wake.

Here is the detailed, factual chronological account of the case based on evidence presented by the Metropolitan Police and the subsequent trial at Woolwich Crown Court.

The Incident

• 19th June 2025 (17:05): 41-year-old Anthony Morrison was attending a funeral wake on Imperial Way in Croydon. An altercation broke out involving 40-year-old Byron Cole, of Gleneldon Road, Lambeth. During the confrontation, Cole produced a firearm and fatally shot Morrison. Emergency services, including the London Ambulance Service, rushed to the scene, but Morrison was pronounced dead at the scene due to catastrophic gunshot injuries.

The Manhunt and Forensic Investigation

• 19th June 2025 – 21st June 2025: Following the shooting, Cole fled the area immediately. Detectives from the Metropolitan Police's Specialist Crime Command launched a murder probe and initiated a massive three-day manhunt across South London.

• 22nd June 2025: Cole was successfully tracked down and arrested by police officers.

• 24th June 2025: Byron Cole, aged-39, of Gleneldon Road, Streatham, was charged with murder and appeared at Bromley Magistrates' Court, in connection with the fatal shooting that took place outside CostCo on Imperial Way.

• The Cover-Up Enquiries: As detectives built their case, CCTV, mobile phone data, and forensic tracking revealed that in the hours and days immediately following the murder, Cole had taken active steps to evade justice. This included disposing of incriminating evidence and changing his physical appearance to avoid being identified by witnesses or captured on camera.

• The Forensic Discovery: During a specialist search of Cole’s home address in Lambeth, officers discovered a firearm hidden behind brickwork in a communal area. Forensic scientists from the Met's Directorate of Forensic Services successfully isolated DNA on the weapon, matching it directly to Cole. While ballistics confirmed this specific hidden gun was not the weapon used to murder Morrison, it provided critical evidence of Cole's access to operational firearms.

The Trial and Verdict

• April – May 2026: The case went to trial at Woolwich Crown Court. The prosecution relied heavily on a detailed timeline of Cole's movements before and after the shooting, forensic DNA evidence, and the bravery of eyewitnesses from the wake who agreed to come forward and testify.

• 14th May 2026: Following jury deliberations, Byron Cole was officially found guilty of murder. He was also convicted of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

<< Back