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Stabbed boy's parents thank woman | Stabbed boy's parents thank woman |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The parents of a 16-year-old knife victim have paid an emotional thank you to a woman who scared off his attackers and desperately tried to save him. | The parents of a 16-year-old knife victim have paid an emotional thank you to a woman who scared off his attackers and desperately tried to save him. |
Shakilus Townsend's mother Nicola Dyer and father Derek visited the scene of their son's death in Thornton Heath, south London, on Friday night. | Shakilus Townsend's mother Nicola Dyer and father Derek visited the scene of their son's death in Thornton Heath, south London, on Friday night. |
They and other relatives thanked Sharon Simpson, 47, for her brave actions. | They and other relatives thanked Sharon Simpson, 47, for her brave actions. |
Shakilus was repeatedly stabbed and beaten with a baseball bat in Beulah Crescent on Thursday afternoon. | Shakilus was repeatedly stabbed and beaten with a baseball bat in Beulah Crescent on Thursday afternoon. |
'Planned and targeted' | |
No suspects have been arrested over the killing. | No suspects have been arrested over the killing. |
He is the 18th teenager to be shot or stabbed to death in London this year. | He is the 18th teenager to be shot or stabbed to death in London this year. |
Ms Simpson said: "There was crying and pain. They said he was a very happy guy, he was nice." | Ms Simpson said: "There was crying and pain. They said he was a very happy guy, he was nice." |
She said she saw two teenage boys, whose faces were covered, beating Shakilus with a baseball bat and kicking and punching him as he lay on the ground last Thursday. | She said she saw two teenage boys, whose faces were covered, beating Shakilus with a baseball bat and kicking and punching him as he lay on the ground last Thursday. |
"I said to them don't slap him, don't hit him at all. I said leave him alone," she said. | "I said to them don't slap him, don't hit him at all. I said leave him alone," she said. |
"I thought that could have been one of mine. I tried to save him but I couldn't." | "I thought that could have been one of mine. I tried to save him but I couldn't." |
She said she ran outside, which caused the attackers to flee, giving her the opportunity to try and save Shakilus. | |
"The only thing he was talking about was his mum and that he didn't want to die. He knew he was going to die but I couldn't help him," she said. | |
She said she saw a tall man looking on as the two teenagers with covered faces beat Shakilus. | |
Police described the incident as a "planned and targeted attack" by a group of four youths wearing hooded tops and bandanas. | |
Floral tributes have been left at the scene, with messages from his cousin Kayreesha, his aunt Diana, and Ben Morris, a fellow pupil from Rosendale Primary School which they both used to attend. | |
His message reads: "You'll be missed mate." | |
Kayreesha wrote: "You grew up so fast and I never got the chance to see you recently. | Kayreesha wrote: "You grew up so fast and I never got the chance to see you recently. |
"I have been a part of you this long and now you are gone but you will always be with me." | "I have been a part of you this long and now you are gone but you will always be with me." |
'Resting peacefully' | |
Shakilus's aunt said: "I hope you are resting peacefully". | Shakilus's aunt said: "I hope you are resting peacefully". |
A relative who visited the scene said Shakilus had been in minor trouble when he was younger but had since reformed. | |
A Metropolitan Police spokesman confirmed that they are following one line of enquiry that the attack could have been sparked by a row over a girl. | |
Police said Shakilus was approached by four people just before he was attacked, three boys and one girl. | |
The girl, who was black and in her mid-teens, was wearing a floral dress. | |
Scotland Yard said today it was not yet clear whether she knew Shakilus or what her role was in the run-up to the attack. | |
Robert Temple, who was among the neighbours who tried to save Shakilus, said: "He was walking along the wall and there was a girl at the bus stop taking photos or videoing him on her phone, then she must have shot off. | |
"It's a nasty business. I just did what I could do, I'm just sorry he died." | |
Mr Temple also found a knife believed to have been used in the attack in the driveway at the front of the flats. | |
He picked it up in a handkerchief and handed it to police. | |
A book of condolence has been opened at nearby Beulah Family Church. | A book of condolence has been opened at nearby Beulah Family Church. |