A 20-year-old man who was fatally stabbed in east London has received tributes.
Just before six of the clock on Tuesday, police were called to reports of an altercation in Hackney’s Bodney Road.
Following a stab wound at the scene yards from Pembury Nursery and Pre-School, the victim, known locally as “LD,” was declared dead, according to the Metropolitan Police.. Later that night, two men, ages 23 and 25, were taken into custody on suspicion of murder. Both are still being held by the police.
The victim’s family friend told the Standard that she had seen him just hours before he passed away and that he was “vulnerable.”
She spoke while crying: “I saw him the day before yesterday. He embraced me tightly.
How did he end up dead? To me, he is like a family friend. To my son and me. I have my son at home. I am unable to inform him that this boy has passed away.
“I saw this boy crying already when his dad died,” she continued. This boy is at risk. He is a boy with vulnerability.
The Standard was also informed by a school friend that he had known the victim for the majority of his life and that “he was a good kid, he did not deserve it.”
Tearfully he explained: “This guy did not choose to do bad things. He was a good guy. He knew everyone. He was cool.
“He was a big individual but he was super cool. I honestly could not think of any reason that someone would harm him.
“I am at a loss for words at the moment because I cannot imagine why someone would do that.
“I have been aware for years. He is family to me. He was like a brother, and there was no reason for anyone to be at odds with him.
“This kid had a good heart,” said a neighbor who knew the victim. He was a decent individual.
On Wednesday afternoon, a sizable cordon that ran along Bodney Road and Hackney Down Roads was still in place.
A large group of forensics officers were seen closely inspecting the grass surrounding Birchington House estate, while a tent was erected meters away outside Marsden House estate.
There have been several tragic murders in the area, according to neighbors who live across the street from where the forensics officers were working, who spoke to the Standard.
Youth worker Reece Reddy, 23, said: “It’s Hackney. It used to be called the murder mile. It’s not a great borough.
“These things happen. It’s unfortunate. I work in a young people’s service. Its way too common in this community. It’s been going on for years.”
Another neighbor who lives in Hackney Downs explained the area is usually busy with school children.
She said: “It’s scary. There was a shooting on the other side of the park. I feel sorry for the children who have to grow up here.
“It’s hard. It feels like you can’t do much about it.”
Patrick Azille, 60, who lives streets away from where the stabbing happened explained people are too frightened to talk to each other around Hackney Downs.
“It’s like an ember burning underneath. It can suddenly erupt. Its dangerous,” he said.
Mr Azille explained that his cousin was killed in a stabbing in Victoria four years ago. “My family live on [Bodney Road],” he added. “His parents live there. I don’t know how they cope.”
The murder follows unconnected stabbings of a boy aged 13 and three men over the weekend in London in Ladbroke Grove, Archway, Little Venice and West Wickham.
His death is the fifth fatal stabbing in London so far this year.
Four of the five victims have been adult males, and the other was 14-year-old boy Kelyan Bokassa – who was stabbed around 27 times as he traveled home on a route 472 bus in Woolwich, south-east London, on January 7.
Detective Superintendent Vicky Tunstall, leading the investigation in Hackney, added: “Our thoughts are with the young man’s family at this incredibly difficult time.
“I am grateful to the people of Hackney for their patience while we conduct our inquiries, we know this is a distressing time for residents and they can expect to see an increased police presence in the area.
“While we have made initial arrests, there is still work to be done to build a bigger picture, and our investigation is still in the early stages.”
A crime scene will remain in place around Bodney Road until the forensic teams concludes an examination of the area, a spokesperson said.
It comes as the Home Office announced a raft of anti-knife crime plans on Wednesday, including making retailers report bulk or suspicious sales to police, and increasing the jail sentence for selling weapons to children, or illegal blades such as zombie knives, to two years.
The proposals will be known as Ronan’s Law after Ronan Kanda, who was murdered in a case of mistaken identity by two boys who were able to buy knives without check