Detectives investigating the murder of a young man yards from a nursery in east London have named and released images of three men they urgently need to speak to.
Jason Junior Romeo died after an altercation in Bodney Road, Hackney, at around 6pm on Tuesday, the Metropolitan Police said.
Mr Romeo, 20, was treated by the London Ambulance Service, but was pronounced dead at the scene.
Raynolph Asante, 22, Rhamyah Bailey-Edwards and Travis Mitchell, both 21 are known to frequent the areas of Hackney, Walthamstow and Deptford.
Detective Superintendent Kelly Allen, leading the investigation, said: “Our team is working tirelessly to identity those responsible for Jason’s murder. We now need the public’s help to trace Asante, Bailey-Edwards and Mitchell.
“I would urge anybody with information about their whereabouts to contact us immediately by calling 999.
“Once again I would like to thank the local community in Hackney for their support.
“Officers have conducted increased weapons searches, reassurance patrols and will carry out house-to-house enquires this weekend.
“This can be intrusive and disruptive, however it’s essential, and your patience is appreciated.”
Two men aged 23 and 25 were arrested on suspicion of murder on Tuesday.
They were released with no further action on the killing but detained again over possession with intent to supply Class B cannabis and bailed pending further enquiries, police said.
A family friend of Mr Romeo previously told the Standard he was “vulnerable” and that she had seen him just hours before his death.
Through tears, she said: “The day before yesterday, I saw him. He gave me a massive hug.
“What did he do to be dead? He’s like a family friend to me. To me and my son.”
A school friend also added Mr Romeo was “like a brother” to him, adding: “He was a good kid, he didn’t deserve it... He knew everyone. He was cool.”
A Hackney resident who said he had known Mr Romeo for years described him as a “good guy” who “was not a trouble-maker”.
A woman who said she was a family friend told reporters: “What did he do to be dead? He’s like a family friend to me. To me and my son. My son is at home. I can not even tell him that this boy is dead.”
Mr Romeo’s death is the fifth fatal stabbing in London so far this year.
Four of the five victims have been adult males, and the other was 14-year-old boy Kelyan Bokassa, who was stabbed around 27 times as he travelled home on a route 472 bus in Woolwich, south-east London, on January 7.
It comes as the Home Office announced a raft of anti-knife crime plans on Wednesday, including making retailers report bulk or suspicious sales to police, and increasing the jail sentence for selling weapons to children, or illegal blades such as zombie knives, to two years.
The proposals will be known as Ronan’s Law after Ronan Kanda, who was murdered in a case of mistaken identity by two boys who were able to buy knives without identity checks.
