Four males ‘leapt from car to stab boy, 15, with zombie knife’ before leaving him to die on street as tragic teen named
UP TO four males leapt from a car to stab a 15-year-old with a zombie-style knife before leaving him to die, it is claimed.
The victim, who was left lying in a pool of blood in the street, has been named locally as Daejaun.
The Met Police has launched a murder investigation after the boy - who has not been formally identified - was found with a stab injury in Eglinton Road in Woolwich, southeast London, on Sunday evening.
He died shortly after officers arrived at the scene and his next of kin has been informed.
A local resident, who declined to give his name but has lived in the area for 12 years, told the Mirror: “People reckon there was around three or four attackers and they jumped out of a car.
"It happens all the time around here."
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Mum-of-three, Tasha Collins, 43, who works at a nearby school, described trying to save the teenager as he lay bleeding near her flat.
She told the Daily Telegraph: "I heard screaming from across the road, saying: ‘Someone’s been stabbed, someone’s been stabbed.’"
She said she grabbed a bed sheet and raced outside with no shoes or socks on and found the teen lying face down.
After turning him over she saw he had a gash on his head and then he moved his leg "and there was a massive pool of blood" which she desperately tried to stem.
Tasha said she was "covered in his blood" by the time officers arrived.
"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.’
“I could see the blood coming out of his leg, and I knew it was his artery straight away. I put my sheet around it, put every ounce of pressure on him until the paramedics came.”
Zombie knives banned in UK as crime surges
Detective Chief Superintendent Trevor Lawry said Sunday's stabbing in Woolwich was a “stark and sobering” reminder of the dangers of possessing weapons such as zombie-style knives.
He was speaking ahead of the Government ban, which came into force on Tuesday (September 24).
It is now illegal to possess, sell, manufacture or transport zombie-style knives and machetes in England and Wales.
The weapons, usually over eight inches long with serrated blades, have been linked to a surge in knife crime in recent months.
Knife crime hit record highs in eight police forces in the year up March 2024.
These included the Metropolitan Police area, where knife crime was up from the previous record of 14,680 in 2020 to 14,961.
West Midlands also saw a high of 5,266, up from 5,192 in 2023.
Data compiled by the BBC also shows the level of zombie knife crime has double over the past five years.
Tasha went on to say the victim was a black teenager who was the "most polite boy - he hasn't got attitude" and she last saw him days earlier dancing in the street with his friends.
Armed police raided a property nearby in shortly after the attack.
Yesterday forensic officers were still combing the scene for evidence.
No arrests have been made.
A vigil was held with floral tributes left at the scene and 50 schoolchildren gathered holding balloons.
Detective Chief Superintendent Trevor Lawry said the death served as a warning about the "danger of zombie-style knives".
He added: "Police called to a disturbance and found 15-year-old boy with stab injuries.
"Our thoughts are with the family as they try to comprehend what happened.
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"This 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 the streets."
