Waltham Forest stabbing victim pictured: Boy, 14, 'knifed seven times after being rammed off moped,' as grieving uncle lashes out at 'messed up world'

Boy, 14, stabbed to death in Waltham Forest, north-east London Schoolboy named as Jayden Moody was killed after being rammed off moped by three attackers It is thought to be the first killing in London in 2019 linked to gangs Detective blasts "cowardly" attack on a child of such a young age
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Detectives are today hunting a gang of three men after a boy of 14 was rammed off a moped and stabbed to death in a “cowardly and targeted” attack in east London.

The schoolboy named locally as Jayden Moody was stabbed up to seven times and left to die in a residential street, according to witnesses.

The murder - the fifth in London this year - is the first to be suspected to be linked to gangs.

Paramedics called to the scene in Bickley Road, Leyton battled to save the boy but he died in the street at about 7.10pm, 40 minutes after the attack.

The boy was said to have been stabbed in the back seven times
Nigel Howard

Witnesses said the boy was knifed in the back after a car “deliberately” drove into him, causing him to fall off the moped.

Detectives today said they were hunting three men driving a car thought to be a black Mercedes B Class with extensive frontal damage.

A father-of-three, who was exercising at the Raw Fitness gym nearby at the time, said: “A guy in here earlier saw everything. What happened was there was a guy on a moped with no plates.

Victim: Jaden Moody, 14, was stabbed to death

“A car came behind him, deliberately whacked into him, he then fell on the floor. Three men then jumped out of the car, stabbed him from behind and drove off.

“I grew up in this area, this is my area. It’s not the same anymore. This is area is bad now. There should be more patrols. Our families are scared to go out.”

Another man said a witness told him the car deliberately knocked him off the moped before stabbing him.

He said : “These were unsurvivable wounds in his back. The man thought it was an accident, that somebody had knocked someone, but then he said they quickly came out of the car.”

The boy’s uncle Josh Grant said the teenager had moved to London from Nottinghamshire with his mother just six months ago.

Investigators at the scene in Waltham Forest
Nigel Howard

He told the Standard: “I’m in bits. It’s a sad time. He was a good kid. When he was young he looked up to me and I always gave him advice and tried to show him the right way in life.

“They had moved from Nottingham down to London about six months ago because they wanted a better life in London.

“I told him he’d have to behave down there, the kids down there are different to kids in Nottingham. It’s not right, the world we live in is messed up.”

The attackers are believed to have knocked the boy off his moped
Nigel Howard

Mr Grant, a painter and decorator, said his nephew “loved playing football” and had been enjoying London, adding that Jayden hoped to work for him when he finished school.

“He wanted to work for me, he deserved a chance,” Mr Grant added.

Tributes to the victim were left at the scene today (John Stillwell/PA )
John Stillwell/PA

Detective Chief Inspector Larry Smith, who is leading the murder hunt, said: “Everything that we have learned about this attack so far indicates it was targeted and intent on lethal force from the outset.

"We are doing everything we can to catch those who carried out this cowardly attack and bring them to justice.”

Locals said there were moped gangs of young people in the area, with drug dealing also taking place.

One local resident said there had been trouble recently between two local gangs the ‘Beaumont Crew’ and their rivals ‘Oliver Close’ engaged in a postcode war.

Police on duty at the scene where the boy was stabbed to death (John Stillwell/PA )
John Stillwell/PA

The possibility of gang involvement is believed to be line of inquiry by detectives.

Floral tributes were left at the scene this morning as friends gathered to pay tribute to the teenager.

Close friend Jason Smith, 18, said : “I saw him the day before it happened. He was usually on a pedal bike not a scooter.

“We’re all shocked and devastated. He didn’t trouble anyone, he was humble and calm. He just wanted to make his parents proud. He was very close to his family and just wanted to be happy with his life.”

Family friend Chanel Joseph, 34, said Jayden attended Heathcote school in Chingford.

She said : “He’s a really nice boy. I can’t believe someone would do that to him. He’s only 14, he must have been so scared.”

Jayden is the capital’s youngest murder victim since 14-year-old Corey Junior Davis was shot dead in Forest Gate in September 2017.

Detective Superintendent Richard Tucker, the head of policing in the Met’s North East command unit, said extra officers from elsewhere in London were being deployed to carry out patrols to reassure the public.

He said : “Everyone is shocked and appalled by this murder. The age of the victim, a boy aged 14, beggars belief and I completely understand the alarm and concern it has raised from those who live and work in the area.

““I want to reassure people that police are working with the local authority and charities and doing everything in our power 24 hours a day to try and make this area safe. I would ask people to support us, some of our work is unseen. Our top priority is to prevent young people being drawn into this violence. “

A Section 60 stop and search order to allow police to search people without suspicion had been ordered last night and was due to in place tonight.

Neighbours said they did not hear any shouting or screaming and only knew of the incident when they saw the blue flashing lights from the emergency services.

One said : “There was a person on the floor, and the ambulance guys were trying to look after him.

The attack is the third stabbing in Waltham Forest in just three days after a woman in her 30s was left fighting for her life when she was stabbed 500 yards away in Church Road on Saturday.

The following day, an 18-year-old man was also injured after being knifed at Blackhorse Road Tube station. A boy aged 13 was arrested in connection with the stabbing.

Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy said she was “devastated” at the “horrific” killing in her constituency.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan added: “I’m greatly saddened by news of the fatal stabbing of a 14-year-old in Waltham Forest, and my thoughts are with his family and friends.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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