Hunt for killer after boy stabbed to death in Woolwich street fight | UK News
A teenage boy who was stabbed to death with a ‘zombie-style knife’ cried out ‘I’m 15, don’t let me die’ as he bled to death, a witness said.
The youngster, who has not been named by police, was found with a stab wound shortly after 6.30pm after police were called to reports of a disturbance in Eglinton Road, Woolwich, on Sunday.
He died a short time later and his next of kin were informed. No arrests have been confirmed.
The murder investigation was launched ahead of a ban coming into force on Tuesday on zombie-style knives and machetes.
The ban, which follows a four-week amnesty scheme where owners were encouraged to hand in their weapons to police, is part of efforts to reduce knife crime.
Campaigners including actor Idris Elba have pushed for the large blades to be outlawed.
Following the latest teenage murder in London, witnesses described the moment they rushed to save the boy shortly after he was attacked and was left bleeding on the side of road.
One woman, who has lived in the area for 14 years, said she was in her bedroom when a person across the road started screaming ‘someone’s been stabbed, someone’s been stabbed’.
She said she ran outside barefoot to find the boy face down on the floor with a gash on his head and a ‘massive pool of blood’ by his leg, and tried to save him by stemming the blood.
‘I asked if I could go and shower because I was covered in his blood, and they said ‘yes’ so I went in and showered,’ she said.
‘I come back out and they (the police) called me over because I was the last one with him – he was going to me ‘I’m 15, I’m 15, don’t let me die’ and I said to him ‘you’re not going to die, mate’.
The woman said she did not know the victim well, but described him as ‘the most polite boy’, who would ‘always say hello and move out of the way when you were walking.’
Detective Chief Superintendent Trevor Lawry appealed to the public in a press conference earlier today, urging anyone with information to come forwards.
’I’m very sad to say that we have launched a murder investigation following the stabbing of a teenager last night, Sunday 22 September, in Greenwich,’ he said.
‘Police were called at about 6.35pm to reports of a disturbance on Eglinton Road in the Woolwich area.
‘Our officers attended and found a 15-year-old boy with a stab injury. Despite the efforts of officers and paramedics from the London Ambulance Service, sadly he died a short time later. His family have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers from the Met.
‘Once again we have had to tell a child’s family that their loved one has been killed in an act of violence using a knife. Our thoughts are with them as they struggle to comprehend what has happened.
‘The fact that a 15-year-old teenager, who had his whole life ahead of him, has been taken from his family in this way, is a stark and sobering reminder of the danger of ‘zombie-style’ knives. We are committed to doing everything in our power to taking these weapons off our streets.
‘We know that this murder will also send shockwaves throughout the community and I understand the genuine concern this will create. We share those concerns.’