Andre Aderemi: Machete murder victim’s family appeal to young to 'stop this war'

Teenage killing: a picture of victim Andre Aderemi, 19, taken from the GoFundMe page set up by his sister Sheniqua Shenz
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The family of a teenager hacked to death after reportedly being chased by youths armed with machetes have pleaded for an end to the cycle of violence on the capital’s streets.

More than 100 friends and relatives of Andre Aderemi, 19, last night gathered for a memorial church service on the Croydon estate where he was murdered on Tuesday.

His mother Yemi Hughes told the congregation: “I’ve lost my baby. He’s my everything, my rock... my other two boys are broken.”

Andre, an ex-pupil at John Ruskin College in Croydon, was an amateur rapper said to be friends with two other young musicians stabbed to death in south London in the past three months.

He is the eighth teenage victim of knife crime in the capital this year.

Peacemaker: Tributes have poured in for 19-year-old Andre who was stabbed to death in Selsdon

Andre was becoming well known in south London’s grime scene, and was friends with Myron Isaac Yarde, a 17-year-old rapper known as MDot, fatally stabbed in New Cross in April.

He is also said to have performed with 16-year-old Leoandro Osemeke, known as Showkey, stabbed to death outside a party in Peckham on August 5.

The police presence in the Monk’s Hill estate where he was attacked was stepped up overnight as the investigation into his death continued.

Inside St Francis Church, Ms Hughes told his friends: “I want you guys to know I don’t blame any of you. Andre would not want me to sit here today with hatred in my heart, he loved you all. I want you to grieve, be together, support each other, be among us. I’m going to miss him so much. I just don’t know how I’m going to carry on.”

Mandy Davis, Andre’s aunt, said: “Please say a prayer for the young people to stop this war that’s going on, so another mother or another family aren’t grieving like we are today.”

Andre’s sister Sheniqua has set up an online fundraising page to raise £4,000 to pay for her brother’s funeral, which has so far raised more than £1,000. She wrote: “He was a passionate for his loved ones and had a priceless heart.”

Rev Peter Wyatt, who led last night’s service, praised the family’s dignity saying: “His mum was incredibly brave and talked about her son.

“It’s a huge shock, the last time anything like this happened here was 20 years ago. It’s a very quiet area.”

To donate to Andre’s funeral, visit gofundme.com/2k5yakba

Two 19-year-olds have been arrested on suspicion of murder and are being questioned in custody.

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