DEPTFORD: Shakilus Townsend killers in guns and gang video boast (From News Shopper)

DEPTFORD: Shakilus Townsend killers in guns and gang video boast

10:31am Monday 17th August 2009 in News Exclusive By Mark Chandler

TWO brothers who murdered 16-year-old Shakilus Townsend have been captured on video bragging about guns and their gangster lifestyle.

The shocking footage has led Shakilus’s mother Nicola Dyer to slam the youths for promoting gang culture.

Under the name SMN - the Shine My Nine gang - Tyrell Ellis, aged 19, and 18-year-old Don-Carlos Ellis appear with 14 other youths in a video uploaded two weeks ago on video website YouTube.

The Ellis brothers are currently awaiting sentence, along with five others, for the murder of Deptford teenager Shakilus, who was lured to his death by girlfriend Samantha Joseph on July 3 last year.

Their video shows the gang prior to their arrests posing with a dog on a chain while rapping about being “down for the killing” and making gun signs to the camera.

In sickening lyrics and to the sound of gun noises, the Ellis brothers, referred to on screen by their street names Rugrat and Drastick, discuss attacking people with bottles, carrying guns, shootings and hitting women.

At one point Don-Carlos Ellis compares his weapons with those of an Iraqi, while his brother brags about carrying an Uzi gun saying: “I’m licking off shots like Arsenal.”

Speaking about the video, Ms Dyer, 34, of Tanners Hill, Deptford, said: “I think it’s a shame youths want to glorify gang culture.

“They need to be shown there ‘s more to life than what exists in the postcode they live in.”

The video is one of several on the website featuring the pair, one of which shows Tyrell Ellis posing with a knife and hammer.

Ms Dyer said: “I think certain internet websites should be vetting the videos which are being put on the internet and removing materials such as gang members trying to justify the use of violence.”

Shakilus died after being beaten with a baseball bat, kicked and stabbed several times.

Seven Croydon teenagers including the Ellis brothers were found guilty of murder following an Old Bailey trial in July and are due to be sentenced on September 4.

Ms Dyer said life for her family had been “extremely difficult” since the trial.

But she said: “The love we as a family felt for Shakilus strengthens every day.”

To see the video visit www.youtube.com/watchv=buEoOOCrj5k

The lyrics

You don’t wanna see me on the backstreet, when I’ve got the black heat, ‘cos I’m strapped like Iraqi. When I’ve got the .22 trust I’ll leave your brains on the backseat. - Don-Carlos Ellis

I’ll put a six to your cheek and your wife get beat - Don-Carlos Ellis

Gunman put your straps up in the air - Tyrell Ellis

You can’t come near ‘cos you know you’re scared. When you see me rude boy don’t stare. Gunshot n****r laid out on the stairs - Tyrell Ellis