London knife and gun crime this week: Fatal stabbing, charges and convictions - what we know

On May 5 the number of violent teenage deaths since Sadiq Khan’s mayoralty began passed 150.

Mr Khan said work has been done to address the problem, adding: “But there is much more to do and one death will always be one too many. I’m determined to continue making progress by being both tough on crime and tough on the complex causes of crime.”

And while the deaths of so many teenagers is tragic, it is not just young people who are caught up in the violence.

Here is what we know about knife and gun crime in the capital in the last week.

Lewisham - Alex Josephs stabbed to death in car

Alex Josephs, 29, was found with knife wounds in his car, a grey coloured BMW, after emergency services were called at 2pm on Wednesday (May 10). He died at the scene.

Detective Chief Inspector Kate Kieran said: “This was a shocking incident that took place on a busy street in the middle of the day. There were a large number of witnesses and I thank those people who have already taken the time to share what they saw. If you have footage or information but haven’t yet spoken to police, please do get in touch.

“We are building a timeline of the events surrounding Alex's murder and your information could be a missing detail in that picture. If you saw anything, please do take the time to contact us.

“Alex's family is reeling from the shock of losing their loved one in such a violent way. Our thoughts are with them as our investigation progresses.”

Four men aged 24, along with a 25-year-old and a 23-year-old were arrested in connection with the death and released pending further enquiries.

Dagenham - Jordan Kukabu fatal stabbing

Four people have been charged after an incident following which Wazabakana Elenda Jordan Kukabu died from a stab wound to the chest.

Police were called at 11.47pm on Friday May 5 to reports of men armed with machetes near to Dagenham Heathway Underground station.

A second man, aged in his 20s, was taken to hospital with a stab injury. His condition was assessed as not life threatening.

A 15-year-old was charged on Wednesday with attempted murder and possession of an offensive weapon.

Two teenagers, aged 16 and 17, and 20-year-old Michael Tommy-Mgagba, of Essex, have since been charged with murder, attempted murder and possession of an offensive weapon.

A 27-year-old man, arrested on Tuesday in Suffolk on suspicion of assisting an offender and a separate offence of violent disorder, has been bailed pending further enquiries.

A 20-year-old man, who was previously arrested on suspicion of murder, has been released with no further action. He was also arrested on suspicion of violent disorder in relation to another incident and has been released on bail for that offence.

Tottenham - Tyler McDermott fatal shooting

An eighth person has been charged with the murder of Tyler McDermott, 17, who was found in Norman Road, Tottenham, in the early hours of April 13 with a fatal gunshot wound.

Shernez Walters, 19, of Hendon Gardens, Romford, was charged on Friday (May 12).

Seven others have previously been charged with Tyler’s murder and are next due to appear at the Old Bailey on July 5:

• Tyrese Barnett, 19, of no fixed address. He was also charged with the attempted murder of another male and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.
• Leo Reid, 19, of Tulse Hill. He was also charged with possession of an offensive weapon.
• Tyrese Matthews, 20, of Black Prince Road.
• Damaris McBeth, 19 of The Glade, Croydon.
• Rhys Antwi, 19 of Prentis Road.
• Alfred Coker, 20, of Bowen Drive.
• Kalam Bagge, 18, of Nimrod Road.

Southwark - Princess Owusu-Ansah jailed for live-streamed attack

On Tuesday, Princess Owusu-Ansah, 18, of Royston, Hertfordshire, was sentenced at Croydon Magistrates’ Court to three years’ imprisonment. She previously pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent and criminal damage.

The attack happened on February 2, when Owusu-Ansah went to the victim’s house in East Dulwich. She carried out a violent assault in which she threw boiling water at the victim, stabbed her and damaged sentimental items.

The victim was taken to hospital suffering stab injuries which were assessed as not life threatening. The assault was broadcast live on social media.

Croydon - Marques Walker sentenced for stabbing 14-year-old Jermaine Cools

Marques Walker, 17, of Jennifer Road, Bromley, was sentenced at the Old Bailey on May 9 after stabbing Jermaine Cools, 14, to death in Croydon in November 2021.

Jermaine was with a group of young people who were fighting in a chicken shop doorway, before Walker drew a knife and repeatedly stabbed him while he was on the ground.

A member of the public drove Jermaine to Croydon Hospital, but he was heavily bleeding, and died later the same evening from his wounds.

Police were searching for Walker, who was caught on CCTV stabbing Jermaine and then fleeing the scene, for six weeks, before finding him hiding behind a bed on December 27, 2021, in relation to a separate matter.

While on the way to the police station he provided his real name, and was then further arrested for murder.

Enquiries later revealed he was a habitual knife carrier, including a conviction for possession of an offensive weapon on school premises.

Walker also pleaded guilty to a separate offence of GBH, after being involved in an attack on a fellow detainee at HMP Feltham on July 1, 2022, which left them requiring life-saving surgery for brain injuries inflicted.

He was sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum of 19 years.

Southall - Two teenagers jailed for murdering 16-year-old Rishmeet Singh

Vanusham Balakrishnan, 18, of Waylands, Hillingdon, and Ilyas Suleiman, 18, of St Jeromes Grove, Hillingdon, were sentenced at the Old Bailey on May 10 for the murder of Rishmeet Singh, 16.

Rishmeet, who came to the UK in October 2019 to seek asylum from Afghanistan, was chased and stabbed by Balakrishnan and Suleiman on November 24, 2021, after enjoying an evening with his friends at the park in Southall. He died at the scene.

The two teenagers were arrested in December 2021, with the court hearing how they had gone out on the day of the killing intending to commit murder.

Despite initial reports that Rishmeet was stabbed for the fake Gucci pouch he was wearing, the court heard Rishmeet was killed as Balakrishnan and Suleiman mistakenly believed he was part of a rival gang.

Balakrishnan was sentenced to life imprisonment to serve a minimum of 24 years, and Suleiman life imprisonment with a minimum of 21 years.

How to contact the Met Police

Call 101 or go 999 in an emergency, or got to the Met website for full details of how to contact the police.

To remain 100% anonymous, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit its website.