A man was stabbed to death as people gathered in Croydon to pay homage to a recent knife crime victim, the Metropolitan Police said on April 3.
The police were called at 9.10 pm on Tuesday, March 30 to follow up on reports of three men fighting in Alpha Road, Croydon.
Officers found a man who had been stabbed and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Detectives are confident the man is 23-year-old Reece Young.
Two men left the scene before police arrived, and later presented themselves at a south London hospital with stab wounds that are believed to have been sustained in the same incident.
The Metropolitan Police said officers went to the hospital and arrested both men on suspicion of murder
One of the suspects, aged 33, remains in the hospital where he is being treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
The other, who is believed to be also in his 30s, forced his way out of the hospital after allegedly assaulting police officers and NHS staff.
An urgent search was carried out and he was later returned to custody on the evening of Wednesday, March 31.
An investigation has been launched by homicide detectives from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command.
Detective Chief Inspector Richard Vandenbergh, who is leading the investigation, said: “We believe this incident was witnessed by a number of people.
“They had gathered for a small vigil in remembrance of another recent fatal stabbing victim when an altercation began.
“Some of those people have already spoken to police, but I believe there are others who captured images and video of what happened. I need those people to contact us immediately.
“The information they have could prove vital in establishing the chain of events that has led to a young man losing his life.”
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or tweet @MetCC quoting CAD 7449/30MAR or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
‘A terrible loss’
Many went on to Twitter to share their concerns.
Second murder within weeks
The fight broke out during a vigil held in the memory of 19-year-old Tai O’Donnell, who died in the same street on March 3.
O’Donnell was fatally stabbed inside a property in Alpha Road, Croydon, after suffering several knife wounds to his thighs.
Since his death, memorials have been organised in celebration of his life, including a balloon release in Wandle Park and a flower and candle memorial outside O’Donnell’s home in Alpha Road.
Kamila Ahmad, 22, of Mitcham, is due to stand trial accused of O’Donnell’s murder at the Old Bailey at a date in the future.
