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Update: Boy murdered in gang attack
9:10am Friday 4th July 2008
Comments (118) Have your say »
A 16-year-boy knifed repeatedly in a gang attack yesterday afternoon died in hospital this morning.
Police launched a murder inquiry after Shakilus Townsend, from Tanners Hill, Deptford, was killed after being chased by at least six hooded and masked youths.
“This is another senseless incident in which a young life has been taken away by a knife."
Detective Chief Inspector Cliff Lyons
He was knocked to the ground and knifed in the chest multiple times in Beluah Crescent, Thornton Heath at around 1.46pm yesterday afternoon.
Shakilus was found by police and the London Ambulance Service suffering from stab wounds in a doorway to a block of flats after being called a member of the public.
Robert Temple, 72, an ex-army medic, was already at the scene and treating the teen before the emergency services arrived.
He said: "It was horrific. The poor lad was covered in blood and crying."
Mr Temple said a blade, between four and five inches long, was handed to police after being found in bushes nearby.
Shakilus was rushed to St George's Hospital, Tooting, where he was pronounced dead shortly after midnight.
Although he has not been officially identified police say they are sure of identity and his family has been informed of his death.
A postmortem examination will be held in due course.
Dee Bamina a 35-year-old student and mum of a seven-year-old boy helped comfort Shakilus before he was taken to hospital.
She said: "He was saying: 'I don't want to die, I want my mum.'
"My son has gone to school this morning very frightened. I'm trying to be strong but it's not easy."
Detective Chief Inspector Cliff Lyons, who is leading the murder investigation, 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 will have witnessed this murder.
"I would urge those people to come forward and speak to the police, to help us bring justice to the Shakilus's family and friends.
Eyewitness, Richard Higgins, 17, was shaken by the ordeal
He said: "The first thing I saw was loads of blood. I heard the boy crying for his mum over and over again. Even when the ambulance came he was trying to take off the oxygen mask and speak to the ambulance crew to tell them to call his mum."
Mr Higgins added: "He was tiny and looked terrified."
Residents described how a group of five to six black males and a mixed race female, dressed in hooded tops with scarves and balaclavas chased the boy through around Beluah Crescent on pushbikes.
Residents said they heard the youths shouting "Get him, he's over there" before chasing him down outside a block of flats. They pounced on the teenager stabbing him four times in the side and once in the centre of his chest.
Retired Peter Gibbs, 60, said: "I have asked for more patrols and they never listen. There was as shooting around here last time and nobody came.
"It's a disgrace. I've seen gangs around and I am afraid. I want the police to do something about it but nobody helps. I feel terrified and so do the other residents. It's just not good enough."
Malcolm Wicks, Labour MP for Croydon North, said: "This is yet another brutal assault, another tragic loss of a young life. My thoughts at this time are with the family and friends of the young man who has died.
"We certainly need to understand the reasons for this sad spate of stabbings, but there can be no excuses. It must be made clear that carrying a knife in suspicious circumstances will lead to a prison sentence."
- Anyone with information should can contact police on 020 8721 4205 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
- To read a description of the suspects click here.
Your Say YourLocal Guardian
T, says...
7:12pm Thu 3 Jul 08
Frank, South Croydon says...
8:17pm Thu 3 Jul 08
sro, thornton heath says...
8:44pm Thu 3 Jul 08
smc, heath says...
9:00pm Thu 3 Jul 08
A, Thornton Heath says...
10:37pm Thu 3 Jul 08
X, Thornton Heath says...
12:23am Fri 4 Jul 08
Maybe if I'd been white they might have taken more notice - I guess to the Police this is just another black on black incident which will be all too soon forgotten....
mastermind, gipsy hill says...
12:53am Fri 4 Jul 08
and i was there for a while speakin to police and to da guy from the daily mirror,
its crazy...
i dnno wot reason these ppl had to do that,
but no reason justifies killing sumone or trying to...
all these yungers need to grow up...
these young ppl dont get the chance to grow up and realise wot theyre doin is stupid...coz theyve got no one to tell them otherwise...the government needs to do sumfin.....
x, Thornton Heath says...
1:23am Fri 4 Jul 08
You're 100% right there. But where are the parents? I saw the youths before they put on their masks and when I saw them my first thought was "what are they up to and why aren't they at school / college?". Do the parents know what these kids are up to?
Anyhow, I've now got through to the Police and told them what I saw before the incident - I know exactly where the gang was before the incident and what they were looking out for. More to the point, they were stupid enough to leave their masks off well before the incident and lots of people would have clocked them and I've told the Police exactly where they need to ask for more witnesses.
If anyone knows anything, tell the Police so we can stop this madness.
Even better, if the youths are reading this, turn yourself in as your going to get caught....
a, bromley says...
1:35am Fri 4 Jul 08
Mick, Sussex says...
2:49am Fri 4 Jul 08
xx, Tho Hth says...
8:31am Fri 4 Jul 08
The offspring grows up ill-disciplined, disrespectful to all and sundry and ends up living in a 21st Century cess-pit.
Only when the Government is prepared to stand up and properly address this matter properly will things improve.
Until then youngsters will die.
carly, london says...
8:43am Fri 4 Jul 08
I think there is some truth in what you say but you cant stereotype everyone.
And this whole gang crap has gone too far but no one will do anything about it because the justice system is crap. If we stand up to these kids & give em a good slap like they deserve, we are the ones who get in trouble with it & if these kids get caught they get a slap on the wrist. They wont teach them that will encorage(sorry about the spelling) them cos they just got away with all sorts.
Its a no win situation, we stand up to em & we either get chucked in prison or stabbed ourselves.
The Government need to pull their finger out & help the poor police force. They get enough stick for being useless already so they need a hand
nik, thornton heath says...
9:12am Fri 4 Jul 08
I think a good way to get some of the kids off the streets is to bring back saturday/holiday work jobs for the youngsters...they learn the value of money and learn a little respect for those around them or else they dont get paid... they would also have the funds to amuse themselves ie the cinema bowling etc with their mates and take the pressure off parents trying to provide entertainment for teenagers on their already tight budget.This would also make it easier for us single mums to get jobs to fit in around our kids as we wont be expected to work weekends and holidays as there would be enough 'mini adults' to fill the gaps
C, SW London says...
9:14am Fri 4 Jul 08
Jacob, Croydon says...
9:21am Fri 4 Jul 08
Trasie, MItcham says...
9:23am Fri 4 Jul 08
Realist, Croydon and Lambeth says...
9:26am Fri 4 Jul 08
The likes of Boris Johnson and others, go around surrounded by safe areas. When Boris came to Croydon to publicise his commitments to improve public transport, I couldn't remember the last time I had seen so many police and authority figures in the general area without some kind of crime scene!
had enough !, surbiton says...
9:32am Fri 4 Jul 08
sarah, Surrey says...
9:39am Fri 4 Jul 08
Trasie, Mitcham says...
10:22am Fri 4 Jul 08
L.Thomas, Croydon says...
10:23am Fri 4 Jul 08
Michelle, Thornton Heath says...
10:26am Fri 4 Jul 08
Lisa, Croydon says...
10:28am Fri 4 Jul 08
Trasie, Mitcham says...
10:28am Fri 4 Jul 08
dobo, croydon says...
10:30am Fri 4 Jul 08
all these yungers need to grow up...No. As a minimum, they need putting away for life. I'd like to see the death penalty for such crimes but its never likely to return unfortunately...
Trasie, Mitcham says...
10:31am Fri 4 Jul 08
Niya, TH says...
10:37am Fri 4 Jul 08
So they will be unemployed for a very long time and turn to knife crime cos its the only way.
Don't bring back hanging. I was once into capital punishment but then that would make me just as bad as them. To want to kill someone because they killed someone else? What if government gets it wrong and kills somoene who is not guilty? Government will get super bigheaded and start hanging everyone left right and centre.
This attack is so close to home, its unbelievable. And playing the race card is not a good idea. Maybe the police didn't want to tell you anything cos you were black just incase you were part of the gang. I highly doubt its cos they hate your colour!!
This country esp TH has gone to the ****!
Glad I moved away, Scotland says...
10:51am Fri 4 Jul 08
Aaron, LINCS says...
10:54am Fri 4 Jul 08
But in the last couple of years I have seen a MAJOR INCREASE in crime mainly Murders.
And the majority of them by kids.
I have heard of people being Beaten to death, Shot and stabbed.
And when something does happen to the people that cause all of this they show little if any remorse.
They might get put into an overcrowded jail for a couple of years with a chance of parole, or the worst Punishment yet 3 months suspended sentence and told that what they did was naughty and promise not too do it again. (Sarcasm).
I SAY FOR ANY CRIME COMMITTED LIKE THIS DESERVES CAPITOL PUNISHEMENT.
Seems Harsh but when you take an innocent life like this young boys and there's evidence to prove who done it then the convicted deserves nothing less themselves and sooner or later people will realize that taking a life.
The Police do the best they can with what they have.
Their not allowed to discipline kids like they used neither are the parents. All due too kids having more rights than adults.
And parents canÂ’t be everywhere at once especially in todayÂ’s society where ones personÂ’s wages cant go far.
If Capitol Punishment comes back even a teenager should not be excemped.
You commit a crime such as this you should be punished accordingly.
KIDS KNOW RIGHT FROM WRONG ........
My heart goes out to the young boys family and friends.
Shantelle, Thornton Heath says...
11:10am Fri 4 Jul 08
X wrote:This has nothing to do with race! It is so frustrating to think that people still feel the need to pull the race card whenever they don't get what they want. To criticise the police is not right either- it's the system, their bosses, that haven't given them the basic information- they are doing the best job they can with very little help.
I saw a gang of youths acting suspiciously about 1.35pm in the area just before the incident. I just found out about it and went to the Police at the scene. I told them I saw suspicious behaviour at 1.35pm and asked them what time the crime had happened in case it had nothing to do with the youths. Would you believe that not one of the four officers could tell me the time it happened. They suggested I find out by looking at the ITN website!! Maybe if I'd been white they might have taken more notice - I guess to the Police this is just another black on black incident which will be all too soon forgotten....
I think there should be less blame on parents too- at 16,17,18 these "kids" are old enough to know better and will often take very little notice of parents.
As a victim of knife crime in Thornton Heath myself, my heart goes out to the family involved.
Minzi, London says...
11:10am Fri 4 Jul 08
Not to be negative but imagine what the numbers will be like by Christmas time.
The value of human life is being downgraded.
Shirley, Purley says...
11:53am Fri 4 Jul 08
Whilst this is mainly a problem in the black community, it's the responsibility of everyone to plough resources into the solution.
duncandesigns, Thornton heath says...
11:55am Fri 4 Jul 08
Gun crime needs to stop.
R.I.P
Trasie, Mitcham says...
11:57am Fri 4 Jul 08
x, Thornton Heath says...
12:23pm Fri 4 Jul 08
Race has got everything to do with it. The Police have been branded as institutionally racist - this is official. Only last week a very senior Asian Police officer started legal proceedings against the Police for racism. Two weeks before that they had to pay substantial damages to another Asian officer for racism. If they can't treat one of their own fairly, what chance is their for the general public??
The Met Police have some of the best training in the world and their funding has increased substantially over the last six years. So, lack of resources and poor capability are red herrings.
The Police aren't doing everything they can to find yesterday's killers. When I went to the crime scene last night to talk to the Police they didn't bother take a statement, my name, they didn't even know what time the crime occured. I was near to the crime scene at 1.35pm and I told them the info I had might be important but they didn't contact any of their colleagues - time is of the essence. I knew exactly where the youths were before the attack, I saw how they were looking out for the victim and I saw the route they took towards the crime scene and I wanted to tell them who else would have seen them. In order to make progress I rang the Police late last night and told them all this and they said they would "come back to me " . I'm still waiting for a call.
This doesn't sound like a Force which is desparate to take criminals who commit black on black crimes off the street....
Lady S, Surrey says...
12:29pm Fri 4 Jul 08
People should be able to read and write by the time they get to Primary! I learnt to write when i was 4! Its the kids today writing like text language, they'll never learn to write.
So they will be unemployed for a very long time and turn to knife crime cos its the only way.
This is not a discussion on people's Spelling or English! if that is the case then look at your own quotes.. i.e COS..
Its about the poor boy who got stabbed to death and all of these stabbings going on. so please stop being so petty! As for your comment about her not being able to spell so therefore she will end up unemployed and turn to knife crime! That is pathetic! Just because you cant read or write, does not mean that you cant get a job! and then you will go around stabbing people.
There is no excuse for these stabbings. Yes they are cowards. the thing is they think they need a knife to protect themself from other people with weapons but that just causes a visios (oh spelling Niya, dont have a go) circle of violence!
What happened to the days where people would just have a fight to sort their differences? im not saying thats right either, but its better than knifes and Guns!
Condolances to the Family.
Michael Valentine, Thornton Heath says...
12:31pm Fri 4 Jul 08
Obviously there are many factors to consider with regards to the decline in the two R’s (Responsibility & Respect). We could go back to the 1980’s (The Thatcher years) and consider her policies of “If a service does not make money” get rid of it”. Which have gone along way in forming the self-preservation and super-greed “I want, I want” “I must have” attitudes that have seeped into our very souls. Or we could look at marketing and the fact that toddlers have been turned into consumers etc.
With all the above in mind, I feel sad to admit that what we are seeing is just the tip of the iceberg. Many years ago children were having children, now I almost see who I regard as ‘toddlers’ having babies. And many of these toddlers and babies have no real extended family such as aunties, uncles, grandparents etc at hand to pass on values.
Many minor, but important values are absent from our day-to-day living. We seem to have lost the ability to ‘think for ourselves’ and to pass on such free thinking to our children.
My son does not play shoot them up computer games where the target is a simulated human being! If he has sweets he shares them with his friends, he says thank you all the time. Though I am not married to his mother, I remind him every other day that we both love him! I could go onÂ…
Somehow we all need to find self love amongst this madness and pass it on to adults as well as everybodyÂ’s children!
Trasie, Mitcham says...
12:39pm Fri 4 Jul 08
Gareth Evans, UK says...
12:47pm Fri 4 Jul 08
They wont be there when you get stabbed. All they do is solve crimes AFTER you are dead!
Hoodies know, you're a target. U get 4 year for 4 carry Knife..lol...not me, 16 yrs old..2 month maybe...lol.
Tigs, says...
1:08pm Fri 4 Jul 08
I think it seems to be British born black/mixed race kids bullying to the extreme, kids that have come from various parts of Africa. It is probably another Damilola Taylor type of situation.
There was something said at the beginning of the play last night when these boys were bullying their victim which implied he was really dark compared to them. Now if we can't at least have solidarity in groups with different skin colour than what hope is there?
The other side of the argument I feel is that many of the kids that are carrying weapons may have come from war torn countries. This makes them de-sensitised to violence and maybe as a result they have no feelings about stabbing somebody over something petty.
RG, Surrey, Surrey says...
1:11pm Fri 4 Jul 08
Watching with Wonder, Croydon says...
1:24pm Fri 4 Jul 08
As for the attack, kids on the street with their jeans round their knees, chunky gold jewels weighing down their arms, walking with some bizarre strut rather then with any sense of purpose - and white and black kids too: I think both race issues and single parent families are contributory factors but they are not wholly responsible - it's the negative influences of hip-hop and gangland culture. It needs stamping out. Why do these kids carry knives in the first place? It's like they are looking for a fight. I walk around with my keys in my pocket - can't really see the need to carry knives - I keep them in the kitchen for cooking!
Leha Lauren, South east says...
1:37pm Fri 4 Jul 08
It's all right leaving comments but everyone of us need to be out there helping to make a difference and changing things. There are loads of local charities you could support that do lots for youths, there are lots of support agencys that try to get kids out of crime, we also need to hear the voices of the youth, why crime, why violence? In there words, there the ones out on the street having to deal with each other whilst we hussle past fearful of being robbed because of the fear the media put into us.
Frankly if i was a teenager in this day and age.... i would be fearful... so maybe the arms of a gang might be a comfort as you don't want to be out on the streets alone.... Its not right but put yourself into their situation... Something must be pushing them in that direction.
Think about it, life is tough for teenages we have to make sure that they know that being in a gang escalates the situation not protects them from it and give them a way out.
Its not going to be easy but we all need to be changing to look out for the teenages who start to think their worthless.... don't let them lose hope... people can change but perhaps it's our society that is shaping these youths.... We have to change.
miss wilson, says...
1:40pm Fri 4 Jul 08
God help us I just want to tell all those christain out there to continue to pray for our children
please dont misunderstand what is going on, these are the last days we are living in and the bible is right chidlren do not know respect for adult means
i dont want to scare you but the hand of God has gone out against this generation and we need to beg Him pardon and ask help
there was a time when school use to have prayers but to entertain others that has gone out of the window this is suppose to be a christian country and we should have kept up with what we believe it right not saying that we should not have make room for others yes but not to have left God out of it what do we expect now
God please forgive us
Croydon
Peace, London says...
1:51pm Fri 4 Jul 08
This is such a misleading comment. It implies that it is God's fault that we find ourselves in the situation we are in. Its not. It our fault. Its us turning our face away from God that has brought us to the here and now. He has not forsaken us, we have forsaken Him.
May, Shakilus Townsend Rest In Peace, another young life wasted, more dreams stamped upon. God bless his family and friends.
Kids... Please stop killing each other
carly, london says...
1:55pm Fri 4 Jul 08
As for the sorry state of this country, I think they only way this is going to stop is if kids realise for themselves that knives aint the answer. We can keep taking them from the kids but they will find other ways to get knives, its not hard these days.
It's either that wor we as a country join together & fight the little sh*ts themselves.
They are incapable of realising the hurt & trouble they are causing. Someone higher up in the government need to take off those rose-tinted glasses, jump off their pedastool & into their chauffer driven cars, out of their 24hr security houses & see this country for what it is..... A fu**ing mess!!!
I can only begin to imagine how this childs family must feel & my heart goes out to them.
Lady S, Surrey says...
1:59pm Fri 4 Jul 08
As for you (tigs) thinking people carrying knifes, are from countries of war etc. I dont believe that is the case. I believe the majority of the ones who are doing this, are british born an have been braught up here. Like i said, and like in that film lastnight (Fall out) its all about who gets who first and oh they have knifes so then they feel the need to carry them too.
I also believe that the parents must know about their kids doing this BUT the other problem is with the law, parents are not allowed to disciplin their children. If they hit them (not saying this is the answer but it worked years ago)the parents can be arrested because the kids can call the police on them.
Oh and Miss Wilson,
yes God may be a good thing for people to turn to but with all this going on, many people lose their beliefs!
carly, london says...
2:01pm Fri 4 Jul 08
When I'm out & about if I see a group of kids I try chatting to them, cos I smoke I just ask for a lighter or something & make a conversation. I know it's dangerous, young girl talking to big gangs. But some really aren't that bad & a couple of boys I was talking to once knew what they was doing was wrong but they were too scared of their 'elders' to leave.
I believe it is down the parents, I for one am scared for my little 2yr old's health if this doesn't change soon.
I would be happy to help in any ideas someone has to help beat this.
jo, says...
2:16pm Fri 4 Jul 08
Jock, London says...
2:21pm Fri 4 Jul 08
C wrote:We've already had that, on more than one occassion.
This is getting frightening. Time for a Knife Amnesty.
Do you really think the criminally minded, or these thugs, will turn their weapons
Latoya, london,england says...
6:47pm Thu 3 Jul 08