Leonardo Reid

DETECTIVES have opened a double murder inquiry – which includes the search for a killer of a teenage boy – amid warnings that they are facing a “knife crime pandemic”.

Leanardo Reid, 15, died after being attacked in Elthorne Road in Archway on Thursday. A 23-year-old who was also stabbed at the scene later died in hospital. He has not been named publicly.

Another man in his 20s was also injured but is expected to recover from his wound.

There were some reports that a group had been filming a music video on the estate before the violence.

It happened on same day as the 15th anniversary of the death of Ben Kinsella – who died almost at the same time of day after being stabbed near York Way.

The coincidence in the timing – a matter of minutes – only underlined the struggle to prevent more tragedies, despite the marches and demands for action which followed 16-year-old Ben’s death in 2008.

The return of forensic teams

This week, there were two familiar sights: forensic teams combing the road for clues and a shrine of flowers for somebody who had lost their life at a tragically young age.

The candlelit tributes for Leonardo have been building at the bottom of Elthorne estate all week.

In an online tribute, relatives said: “Leo is remembered by those who loved him as a bright, loving son, brother, and friend. He loved football, music, and his family.

“Leo was just four months shy of his 16th Birthday, a cause for celebration for his family and his many achievements. His family wish to honour him on this day and beyond.”

Sonia Jacob, the principal of the City of London Academy Highgate Hill, where Leonardo was a student, said: “Leonardo was a bright and popular boy from a loving family who was very committed to his education.”

She added: “This is an unspeakable tragedy that has devastated his family, friends, the whole school, and our local community. We are doing everything we can to support everyone affected in this difficult time.”

Flowers laid for Leonardo

Community leaders and anti-knife crime campaigners warned that the killings had to lead to change.

Leona Doswell, a youth worker who lives in the Elthorne Estate, said: “I’ve lived here all my life, I’m 40 years old now, and when I was younger, there was always something for us to do. There’s nothing in this area for teenagers to do. Youth centres are for younger kids.

“We need more workshops and more hubs for older kids that can allow them to express themselves and get them into something they’re interested in rather than roaming the streets.”

She added: “There’s a detachment between public services and the reality of what these kids face.  There is a pandemic of knife crime for young people. No one is calling it a pandemic – but it is.”

Tyler Clancy, 19, was a close friend of Romario Opia, a 15-year-old who was killed in a stabbing on the Elthorne estate in 2021. He has since become an anti-knife crime activist and went on to launch “Living Romario’s Legacy” last year, a project aiming to link up youth services across the borough.

“As sad as this is, it’s not a surprise,” he said. “We’ve taken a huge step back.”

Mr Clancy said that youth services needed to have more provision for older children.

Patrick Green from the Ben Kinsella Trust

“As much as we shout and we say how we feel, that doesn’t go anywhere unless we have the understanding and compassion from the council,” he said.

“Before Romario passed away, I was naive to think that knife crime wouldn’t affect me, and when it did I noticed that it was something affecting young boys who are simply lost.

“Before Romario was involved in something that led to his death, he was involved in Bike Life, which was just something positive that he loved. That was held together by Cornwallis Adventure playground, but then he got to an age where he was no longer fit for that playground.

“These projects we have for older children are not working. If they were working, we wouldn’t have children out on the streets.”

Campaigners say these issues must not end up being forgotten a few weeks down the line –and action talked about in the wake of a tragedy must be sustained.

Evelyn Jackman, who lives in Liverpool Road and is head of Islington’s Advisory Group to the Metropolitan Police, said “I’ve been a victim of knife crime when I was young, my son was stabbed. I’ve seen my friend die. I’ve seen it all. Every time there’s a stabbing people say, ‘oh, things have got to change,’ but then things go quiet.”

The advisory group liaises between communities and police, and advises officers on what the community feel are the biggest issues.

Ms Jackman said: “I would love to have a booklet with all the agencies and all the community groups [involved in the fight against knife crime]. That way, if I can’t help you, I’ll send you on to somebody else who can.”

Jessica Plummer, whose son Shaquan Sammy-Plummer died after being stabbed on his way home to Finsbury Park from a party in Enfield in 2015, said that learning to talk and interact with young people is essential.

Supt Jack May-Robinson

“You don’t talk at them, you talk with them. You tone down your voice and you find a way to approach them nicely,” she said.

“People need to understand the issues that young people face instead of pointing fingers.

“Everybody has a problem. They may have a problem they’re facing and they don’t know what to do, and because they don’t trust anyone and no one believes in them, they do what they feel they need to do.

“We need to stop with the criticism and show more action.”

Even back in 2008, just weeks before he died, Ben Kinsella had written to the Prime Minister Gordon Brown warning him that knife murders were becoming a common part of life for young people, and asking him to use his position as the country’s leader to take action. Every prime minister, mayor and council leader that has come since has been asked similar questions.

Patrick Green, the CEO of the Ben Kinsella Trust, said his immediate reaction to the killings was one of “horror, disbelief, and despair.”

When asked by the Tribune how we can put an end to knife crime, he said: “The easiest way for me to answer this is to answer your question in reverse. If your question to me was, ‘what could we do to increase knife crime, and make life easier for criminals, drug dealers, and those who exploit young people for their gain?’ I would say what we would do is we should cut police numbers, maybe by 20,000 and instruct officers to be less visible on our streets and in our neighbourhoods.

“I would want funding linked to youth services to be cut, almost decimated. I’d like to see youth clubs closed down because they’re safe places for young people. Youth Services, as you know, are a positive influence on young people.

“And I’d like to see a largely unregulated internet because it’s costing me money to have foot soldiers waiting outside schools to lure and exploit young people.

“You think of what’s happened over the last 10 years, and that’s exactly where we are. And those three principles are the cornerstone, the foundation, the bedrock of how you start to tackle this issue, and they’ve all been undermined.”

Islington’s executive member for community safety, Cllr John Woolf, said: “We know that this terrible act of violence will have been hugely unsettling for the local community, and we’re working with the police and other partners to provide reassurance to people in Archway.”

He added: “We’re providing direct support to students and staff at the school that Leonardo Reid attended, and to any young people that are affected by the incident. Council officers are also joining the police on patrols to provide reassurance to the community, and weapon sweeps are also taking place.

“Across Islington, we’re taking action to improve safety for all. We’ve installed knife surrender bins across Islington, we’re working with Arsenal on their No More Red campaign to protect young people from violence, and we’re part of a No Knife Shop project to combat knife crime. We’re also offering children and young people free activities and opportunities over the summer through our Summerversity programme.”

He added: “Between the years 2018/2019 and 2021/22, we’ve seen year-on-year falls in knife crime offences and knife crime injury victims across the borough. Clearly, as this incident shows, there’s more we can do to create a safer Islington.”

Highbury Fields death

IN an unrelated stab death investigation, three teenagers were yesterday (Wednesday) charged with killing 15-year-old Deshaun James-Tuitt.

Deshaun died after the attack in Highbury Fields last August. The three males, who cannot be named due to their ages, appeared at Thames Magistrates’ Court yesterday, but the case was expected to be moved to the Old Bailey.