Update: Teenager stabbed to death in fight (From News Shopper)

Update: Teenager stabbed to death in fight

2:00pm Wednesday 20th February 2008 in

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A 16-YEAR-OLD stabbed to death in Plumstead is the fifth teenager to be killed in London this year.

Police have launched a murder investigation after the fatal stabbing incident in Invermore Place, Plumstead, at around 4.15pm yesterday.

The victim - a 16-year-old black youth - has not yet been formally identified.

He was pronounced dead at the scene at 4.54pm.

Paul Whisker, 53, a meter reader, who lives in Invermore Place, found the boy bleeding in the road and called the emergency services.

He said: "I came home from work about 4.30pm. He was in the road and obviously in distress.

"He was trying to stand up but he couldn't. I called the ambulance on my mobile phone.

"A man was there with a medical bag and he was trying to put pressure on the boy's back.

"We just stuck with him until the ambulance came and kept him on his side.

"After a few minutes I don't think he was alive any more. You can only assume it was a stabbing, there was so much blood."

A spokesman from Greenwich College, in Plumstead Road, said a boy came in at around 3pm saying he and his friend were being chased.

The youth had been separated from his friend and tried calling him on the college's phone.

Greenwich College is assisting the police with their enquiries and its CCTV is being examined to see if this was the same youth.

The spokesman said the boy was not one of the college's students.

A resident in Invermore Place said she thought a boy had tried to climb over her garden wall, possibly trying to escape.

She said: "I looked out because I heard a noise but I thought it was probably just kids playing.

"I've only just moved here but it's scary now."

Another resident, who has lived on the estate for 26 years, said: "All the enclaves round here seem to be run by gangs as young as 12 and 14.

"We've had this for the past two or three years and there are often fights. It's getting very bad."

Police say they believe the victim was stabbed followed a fight with a group of black youths.

The investigation by the Homicide and Serious Crime Command is being led by Det Supt Phil Adams.

Anyone with information should call the incident room in Lewisham on 0208 721 4868 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.