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4:26pm Friday 4th July 2008
POLICE have said a 16-year-old boy was murdered after being attacked by a group of youths armed with knives and a baseball bat.
Shakilus Townsend, known as Shaki to his family, was attacked at around 1.45pm yesterday (July 3) in Thornton Heath.
Three boys and one girl approached him as he walked through the area.
The three boys attacked Shakilus, of Tanners Hill, Deptford, stabbing him and hitting him around the head with a baseball bat.
Police describe the boys as black, aged in their mid-teens, wearing hooded tops with the hoods up and bandannas over the lower half of their faces.
The girl is described as black, aged in her mid-teens and wearing a floral dress.
Police say from their actions after the attack, the teenagers seemed unfamiliar with the area, appearing to run in various directions looking for a way to escape.
Police and ambulance staff were called to the scene and found Shakilus suffering from a stab wound in a doorway to a block of flats.
He died just after midnight.
A post-mortem examination is being conducted at Croydon Coroner's Court and an inquest will open in due course.
Two knives have been recovered from the scene.
A murder investigation is under way, with a Homicide and Serious Crime Command incident room being set up under Detective Chief Inspector Cliff Lyons.
Speaking this afternoon, Mr Lyons said: "This is another senseless incident in which a young life has been taken away by a knife.
"Given that this happened outside a block of flats in broad daylight, I am certain there are people who have witnessed this murder.
"I would urge those people to come forward and speak to the police, to help us bring justice to Shakilus's family and friends.
"I would reassure those witnesses that if you come forward you will be dealt with professionally and in confidence by officers from the Homicide and Serious Crime Command.
"We have a 92 per cent detection rate for knife murders. If you come forward, your evidence will help take dangerous individuals out of your community and help deliver justice to the community."
If you have any information call the incident room on 020 8721 4205 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
shopper, says...
11:54am Fri 4 Jul 08
shopper, says...
11:57am Fri 4 Jul 08
shopper wrote:I forgot to add the BBC report.
This is just a dreadful state of affairs. Another teenager loses his life. When is it going to stop. May he rest in peace. The news report above says he was found suffering from a stab wound, but the BBC reported he suffered multiple stab wounds. I wonder if it was the same sub human dog, that murdered the French Students. There is certainly some deranged psycho\'s out there. London is become a hell pit. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
anita, dartford says...
11:58am Fri 4 Jul 08
shopper, says...
12:06pm Fri 4 Jul 08
Scared, Bromley says...
12:09pm Fri 4 Jul 08
sharia, says...
12:14pm Fri 4 Jul 08
dontneedtoknow, South East London says...
12:43pm Fri 4 Jul 08
melissa, meopham says...
1:56pm Fri 4 Jul 08
shopper wrote:Do not be so stupid! The police are not taking anyone off the streets!! Goverment officials make all the ridiculous decisions from behind their desks, the police would have been the ones dealing with this awful crime. Some poor police officer would have had to go and tell a mother that her child has been killed, others would have to examine this lads body for evidence and others will now spend hours investigating this revolting crime. Family time will be cancelled, wives expecting their husbands home, will get a phone call saying that he will not be, etc.... How would you fancy going and breaking the news to that mother, or dealing with this!! LAZY... I don't think so, dis-heartened maybe, how is this crime being blamed on the police, why is YOUR comment directed at the police?? How THICK are you that you are trying to pass the buck from the person that stabbed this young boy? Is that how you live your life, blaming others for your mistakes? Bloody right this is not Dixon of Dock Green anymore, it is horrible out there now, idiots like you with no respect or understanding sitting in your armchair chucking mud in the wrong direction. Well, I wonder who you will call when you are in trouble. Please do not call the police! Get off your backside then and organise a rally, but do it for the right reasons, mind you I doubt you would want to move too far from the telly! Rant over.
Its an utter disgrace the police are taking officers off the beat and yet they want a pay rise.......WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE YA LAZY B ASTARDS -THIS ISN'T DIXON OF DOCK GREEN ANYMORE! I think we should all orginize a rally and get down to Downing St.
shopper, says...
2:07pm Fri 4 Jul 08
melissa wrote:You're a waste of space, you ranting loony liberal.
shopper wrote: Its an utter disgrace the police are taking officers off the beat and yet they want a pay rise.......WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE YA LAZY B ASTARDS -THIS ISN\\\'T DIXON OF DOCK GREEN ANYMORE! I think we should all orginize a rally and get down to Downing St.Do not be so stupid! The police are not taking anyone off the streets!! Goverment officials make all the ridiculous decisions from behind their desks, the police would have been the ones dealing with this awful crime. Some poor police officer would have had to go and tell a mother that her child has been killed, others would have to examine this lads body for evidence and others will now spend hours investigating this revolting crime. Family time will be cancelled, wives expecting their husbands home, will get a phone call saying that he will not be, etc.... How would you fancy going and breaking the news to that mother, or dealing with this!! LAZY... I don\\\'t think so, dis-heartened maybe, how is this crime being blamed on the police, why is YOUR comment directed at the police?? How THICK are you that you are trying to pass the buck from the person that stabbed this young boy? Is that how you live your life, blaming others for your mistakes? Bloody right this is not Dixon of Dock Green anymore, it is horrible out there now, idiots like you with no respect or understanding sitting in your armchair chucking mud in the wrong direction. Well, I wonder who you will call when you are in trouble. Please do not call the police! Get off your backside then and organise a rally, but do it for the right reasons, mind you I doubt you would want to move too far from the telly! Rant over. As for the family of this poor boy, I am so sorry, and I hope that the wicked person responsible is caught quickly.
Always right, says...
2:14pm Fri 4 Jul 08
melissa wrote:Idiot.
shopper wrote:Do not be so stupid! The police are not taking anyone off the streets!! Goverment officials make all the ridiculous decisions from behind their desks, the police would have been the ones dealing with this awful crime. Some poor police officer would have had to go and tell a mother that her child has been killed, others would have to examine this lads body for evidence and others will now spend hours investigating this revolting crime. Family time will be cancelled, wives expecting their husbands home, will get a phone call saying that he will not be, etc.... How would you fancy going and breaking the news to that mother, or dealing with this!! LAZY... I don't think so, dis-heartened maybe, how is this crime being blamed on the police, why is YOUR comment directed at the police?? How THICK are you that you are trying to pass the buck from the person that stabbed this young boy? Is that how you live your life, blaming others for your mistakes? Bloody right this is not Dixon of Dock Green anymore, it is horrible out there now, idiots like you with no respect or understanding sitting in your armchair chucking mud in the wrong direction. Well, I wonder who you will call when you are in trouble. Please do not call the police! Get off your backside then and organise a rally, but do it for the right reasons, mind you I doubt you would want to move too far from the telly! Rant over.
Its an utter disgrace the police are taking officers off the beat and yet they want a pay rise.......WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE YA LAZY B ASTARDS -THIS ISN'T DIXON OF DOCK GREEN ANYMORE! I think we should all orginize a rally and get down to Downing St.
As for the family of this poor boy, I am so sorry, and I hope that the wicked person responsible is caught quickly.
Melissa, meopham says...
2:17pm Fri 4 Jul 08
Anne, orpington says...
2:24pm Fri 4 Jul 08
me, pettswood says...
2:29pm Fri 4 Jul 08
Melissa, Meopham says...
2:33pm Fri 4 Jul 08
rob, london says...
5:59pm Fri 4 Jul 08
GOD, UP ERE says...
7:30pm Fri 4 Jul 08
Sweet Fanny Adams, The Kennel says...
8:23pm Fri 4 Jul 08
This country is crap, bromley says...
9:29pm Fri 4 Jul 08
anne, orpington. says...
10:32pm Fri 4 Jul 08
Mother, South East London says...
11:16pm Fri 4 Jul 08
A concerned Mum, Orpington says...
12:12am Sat 5 Jul 08
me wrote:I am also a mum of an 18 year old I hate every weekend not being able to sleep until I hear the door close behind him.
look at what the 17 year old posted,how very true,i am a mum of a 15 year boy ,i cant bear it when he gos out ,i am scared to death. one option would be to send the kids to afganistan that get caught with knifes and get our young soliders out of there
quote
South East, South East says...
1:20am Sat 5 Jul 08
francesca, london says...
10:27am Sat 5 Jul 08
Tracey, Orpington says...
11:18am Sat 5 Jul 08
Roger, Leeds says...
11:46am Sat 5 Jul 08
Roger, Leeds says...
11:57am Sat 5 Jul 08
francesca wrote:The "Law" is not worth knowing about as it lets the guilty do what they want then walk free.
I am only 18, I dont know much about the law yet as someone has said above, having a death sentence may be the only way of putting this right. The whole thing is sick.
Demi, London says...
1:18pm Sat 5 Jul 08
Rog, Leeds says...
3:12pm Sat 5 Jul 08
South East, South East says...
6:03pm Sat 5 Jul 08
Rog, Leeds says...
9:21pm Sat 5 Jul 08
South East wrote:I agree with you 100%
What a nasty evil and very sick girl. I hope she is caught and and jailed by the courts.She is has guilty if not more so along with the rest of the gang who carried out this cowardly attack. They should all receive a life sentence and taken off our streets for good. The police and courts have to get much tougher and issue harsher sentences to thses gangs and anyone found with a knife, gun or weapon. ENOUGH REALLY IS ENOUGH. My thoughts are with this poor mans family and friends. RIP and hopefully justice will seen to be done for you. God Bless.
Rog, Leeds says...
9:28pm Sat 5 Jul 08
Rog, Leeds says...
9:50pm Sat 5 Jul 08
South East, South East says...
9:54pm Sat 5 Jul 08
anita, dartford says...
9:58pm Sat 5 Jul 08
Bag Lady, Bromley says...
10:08pm Sat 5 Jul 08
bernie, London says...
11:20pm Sat 5 Jul 08
concerned Mum, Orpington says...
11:56pm Sat 5 Jul 08
Rog wrote:Girls can be worse than boys. My 18 year old was lured out of town and when he arrived in his car there was several boys waiting to attack him and steal his vehicle. God knows what this poor boy went through. I just hope the parents get justice for what has happened to there son. My thoughts are with the family at this very sad time
South East wrote: What a nasty evil and very sick girl. I hope she is caught and and jailed by the courts.She is has guilty if not more so along with the rest of the gang who carried out this cowardly attack. They should all receive a life sentence and taken off our streets for good. The police and courts have to get much tougher and issue harsher sentences to thses gangs and anyone found with a knife, gun or weapon. ENOUGH REALLY IS ENOUGH. My thoughts are with this poor mans family and friends. RIP and hopefully justice will seen to be done for you. God Bless.I agree with you 100% BUT... Lets face it when they get charged and it gets dropped from Murder to Mansalughter they will all be given a set tarrif i.e. must serve a maximum of 15-20 yrs, and a good few months later they will appeal against the convictions. All the time being housed at our expense and not really having to worry about keeping a roof over their head or where the next meal will come from. Thanks to messers Brown & Straw and not to forget whichever magistrate they get. What hope have we got?
Rog, Leeds says...
1:27pm Sun 6 Jul 08
Rog, Leeds says...
8:46pm Sun 6 Jul 08
Barry, Tooting says...
1:39pm Mon 7 Jul 08
anita, dartford says...
4:43pm Wed 9 Jul 08
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Matt, bromley says...
11:52am Fri 4 Jul 08