Shakilus Townsend}’s portrait

Shakilus Townsend

  • Died Jul 04, 2008
  • Deptford, United Kingdom
16-year-old Shakilus Townsend was chased by a gang of youths wearing masks and hoods and stabbed five times in the chest and stomach. Shakilus died today in St George's Hospital.
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Another senseless murder

from the BBC

A teenager called for his mother as he lay dying after being stabbed in a street in south London.

Shakilus Townsend, 16, from Deptford, south-east London, was found with multiple knife wounds in Beulah Crescent, Thornton Heath, on Thursday.

He died in a hospital shortly after midnight. He is the 18th teenager to be murdered in London this year.

The building's residents said the youth called for his "mum" and said "I don't want to die" as they tried to save him.

Police said he was attacked shortly after 1400 BST on Thursday. No suspects have yet been arrested.

People living close to the scene described how they tried desperately to save Shakilus.

Dee Bamina, 35, tried to stem the bleeding from a wound to his chest with a bath towel after another neighbour brought him into the communal doorway of her block of flats.

"I think a group of boys must have been after the boy," she said.

"All I heard was them saying 'get him from the other side'."

Ms Bamina saw a gang of four or five youths, aged 15 to 19, with scarves covering their faces. One had a baseball bat. A girl was also with them, she said.

She said the boy was saying "I don't want to die" and "where's my mum, I want my mum".

An air ambulance was scrambled but Shakilus was eventually taken to hospital by road after being treated at the scene.

Det Ch Insp Cliff Lyons said: "This is another senseless incident in which a young life has been taken away by a knife.

"Given that this happened outside a block of flats in broad daylight, I am certain there are people who will have witnessed this murder."

Neighbour Richard Higgins, 17, said he saw the weapon that was used.

"It was a big kitchen knife, maybe 18in," he said.

"He had stab wounds on his stomach and one big long wound on his chest."




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Memories

PEACE BE WITH YOU

mzdelow911 Oct 29, 2009

MY PRAYERS TO THE FAMILY OF THIS YOUNG MAN. I CAN IMAGINE WHAT HE WAS GOING THROUGH. I KNOW MY DAUGHTER WAS CALLING FOR BEFORE SHE PASSED AWAY, THAT HURTS SO BAD TO KNOW YOUR CHILD WAS CALLING FOR THEIR MOM. GOD BLESS YOU YOUNG MAN, IM SO SORRY THIS HAPPEN TO YOU

My prayer

Ola Oct 23, 2009

My prayer is with the family of this murdered young soul. That you may find peace in the midst of pain. That you may know love in the face of loss. That you may have hope though heartbroken. That you will be strengthened where saddened. Above all, know that God's love is with you and He'll love to share in and help ease your pain. Call on Him.

Much love.

I NEVER KNEW HIM

tonyinsatx Sep 06, 2009

I never knew this kid but I can understand what his friends are going through (not the family, as no one in mine's has ever been murdered). I live in the U.S and about 20 yrs ago I had a friend named Chris. We went EVERWHERE together as we were very, very close. He was a great guy. He was the straight laced guy and I was what you might call a thug. In fact most of my friends were thugs,. He was the only innocent one of us. He worked as a security guard at an apt complex. One Friday I tried to convince him to get a job where I was working, but he wouldn't do it. The next day on the news i heard he'd been shot and killed. Initially no one knew who did it, but we, his family and his friends all tried to find the culprits, but the cops found them first (lucky for them as we were ALL ready to take them out on sight.) It was 2 guys and a girl and they told the cops they wanted to know what it was like to kill a person in uniform.To this day, he was one of the best friends I've ever had and I alway think of him when I hear of sad stories like this. For all of you people bashing this kid, remember 1) this could have been YOU or still could be one of your family members one day and 2) this is NOT a judgement site, it's a "RESPECTANCE" site. Have some respect and hope and pray that no one from your family gets treated the way that this kid got treated and is still being treated BY YOU!!!

NOT FOR YOUR ARGUMENTS!!!

J. Duval Jul 13, 2009

As a family friend im deeply angered by ALL of you who are using this MEMORIAL page as your personal platform for debate over whats wrong with society. IF you care so much go complain to an MP. DO NOT sully the memory of a young boy no matter how he posed in photo's or what he posed with.

This is NOT a place for you to discuss parenting skills. Go and raise your children instead of arguing and putting down people over how they raise thier's.

Shak WILL be missed by those who knew and loved him David Peters, and im sure if it were someone close to you, no matter what they we photographed holding you would miss them just the same.

Thank you Carl for having sense, your message should have ended it but i felt too angry to not speak my mind about the foolishness being brought here.

We miss you shak, you were too young. You'll be missed sooo much...

sharon (Jul 18, 2009)

Hi there, I am so sorry for your loss and deeply feel for the whole family. I am a law student and I am doing a law reform paper on knife crime, I really need your help. can you email me on sharriegi@googlemail.com. thank you and may god bless you all

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