This is the first picture of an “innocent” teenager stabbed to death outside his old primary school.
Chima Osuji, 17, was found dying from a single stab wound in Longshaw Road, Chingford, at 9.20pm on Easter Monday.
Neighbours, paramedics and police battled to save the boy but he was declared dead at the scene.
Police said on Wednesday they arrested two boys, aged 15 and 16, at residential addresses in Chingford.
The teenagers are still being questioned at a north London police station.
His death marks the first teenage boy stabbed to death on the streets of the capital this year.
A friend paid tribute to Chima, saying: “He was a really close friend of mine. He didn’t have a single ounce of hatred in his heart. He was such a nice person and not a single problem would be caused by him.
“He was quiet until you got to know him, then he wouldn’t shut up though.
“We’d just be listening to music he’d just start dancing, was such an innocent soul.”
Another friend said Chima was walking past Longshaw School with another boy when a knifeman jumped out of a car and began chasing them.
They split up, the friend made it to safety at another pal’s house but Chima appeared to be “targeted” by the knifeman who “appeared out of the dark”, he said.
The school friend, who was with Chima just two hours before he was killed, told the Standard: “It could’ve been me. He was a good friend, a very good person.
“Out of all my friends he was the nicest, most generous person. He was quiet but once you got to know him he got active, he liked to dance. We hung out all day that day just chilling. He was completely fine he had no reason to be looking over his shoulder.
“He wasn’t involved in any of the Waltham Forest gang stuff.
“I got a call saying he had been stabbed. If they were targeting him then it could just as well have been me. I ran down but there was nothing I could do. I couldn’t get past the tape.
“I can’t think of one person in this planet who would want to hurt him. There was no reason.”
The murder investigation is being led by the Met’s Specialist Crime Command. Officers have been trawling through CCTV images from around the crime scene as they attempt to close in on the killer who stabbed his victim in the chest.
DCI Larry Smith, who is leading the murder inquiry, said yesterday: “Our investigation is continuing at pace and this morning we made two arrests in connection with this tragic incident, which resulted in a teenager losing his life.
“However, our enquiries very much continue and I would appeal to anyone with information who is yet to speak to us to come forward. Your information, no matter how small you think it is, could help get justice for a grieving family.”
Chief Superintendent Simon Crick added: “This is a tragic incident and I am devastated that a young life has been lost as a result of knife crime. Incidents such as this have a devastating impact on families, friends and our local communities.”
