Police in Archway after 16-year-old Deonte Mowatt-Slater was discovered with a fatal injury

NOTHING has changed!

This was the warning from a devastated youth worker after a third teenager in four years was found dead with a suspected knife injury in Archway.

Police have launched a murder investigation following the death of 16-year-old Deonte Mowatt-Slater who was discovered with a fatal injury at Courtauld Road on the Elthorne Estate, along with his motorcycle, shortly after midnight on Tuesday.

A police cordon remained in place around the crime scene on Thursday, when the Tribune observed four police officers seemingly searching for evidence on the grass behind flats on Beachcroft Way, close to Courtauld Road.

His death came just four days after a young man died in similar circumstances in Back Hill near Farringdon, just over the border with Camden. A regular player who had joined a club set up to divert young people away from negative influences, grassroots football teams across the boroughs will hold a minute’s silence for Abdul-Latif Pouget, 20, before matches this weekend.

In Archway, Deonte’s death follows the fatal stabbing of Leonardo Reid, 15, in Elthorne Road in July 2023, and Romario Opia, also 15, who was stabbed outside his school gates on Elthorne in January 2021.

The police investigations are not related but the chilling déjà vu is adding to the despair.

Youth worker Tyler Clancy, a close friend of Romario, told the Tribune that the news of another death was “truly devastating”.

Mr Clancy said: “People forget that these are children – these are people’s children.

“These are children that are literally still in school, their mums still wash their clothes, they are still shouting for their mum to get them a pair of socks in the morning. I wish I could say I’m surprised but it’s the complete opposite really, it’s not a surprise at all.

“You try and reflect on what’s happened and what’s changed, but nothing has changed and nothing is going to change.”

Mr Clancy said that initiatives like the national call to hand in so-called zombie knives before they were made illegal in September are “a step on a staircase that isn’t built yet”, adding: “You need the correct infrastructure for things like that to work. That’s youth workers and youth hubs, that’s where the attitude of the young people can change. But those relationships and those spaces are constantly being ripped away from these young people.”

He said that formerly “ram-packed” youth facilities in north London, such as now-closed youth club Platform, have been replaced by smaller youth hubs that are less well integrated in the community.

“I have never met a young person in my life who says they hold a knife because they want to stab someone,” Mr Clancy added.

“We are not talking about psychopathic adults. We are talking about children who are petrified because everyone out there is holding knives.

“It’s sad but that is how this cycle continues to keep on going.”

Archway resident Derek Peart, who grew up on Elthorne, spent Tuesday talking to people around the crime scene.

“I was very upset and that’s what made me come over,” he said. “We need to be there for each other when something like this goes on. These kids are not killing each other because they’re bad. They’re beautiful children, talented and intelligent.”

Mr Peart, 38, said there was less violence in Elthorne when he was growing up and that he believes there is a greater sense of disconnect within communities today.

“The first step is to make services available for young children,” he said. “They just need someone with a bit of charisma and someone who actually cares about them, someone who can relate to them.”

Another local resident, Rosalind Beckles, who uses a wheelchair, said the police cordon had “thrown her” and that she felt increasingly unsafe going out in the neighbourhood without her carer, after a friend of hers – who also uses a wheelchair – was stabbed.

In a statement, Detective Chief Inspector Neil John said: “We are in the very early stages of our investigation. At this point it is unclear exactly where Deonte was when he suffered his injury. He was found injured on Courtauld Road along with his motorcycle. We are working hard to establish the sequence of events that led to this tragic loss of a young life.”

Medics treated Deonte in an attempt to save his life but sadly, despite their efforts, he died at the scene.

So far there have been no arrests.

Labour council leader councillor Kaya Comer-Schwarz said in a statement that she was “deeply saddened” by the tragic news of Deonte’s death.

She said: “My thoughts are with Deonte’s family, friends and everyone impacted at this extremely difficult time.

“The Metropolitan Police has launched an investigation and we are working with them to support the community, including extra patrols locally and specialist support for young people.”

• Anyone with information or footage/dash-cam relating to this incident should call police on 101 or post on X @MetCC quoting CAD 95/22Oct.

To remain 100 per cent anonymous call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org.