Knife crime: 18-year-old boy stabbed to death in East London

An 18-year-old boy was knifed to death in East London yesterday - the 24th teenager to be fatally stabbed or gunned down in the capital this year.

Charles Junior Hendricks, or CJ, was found dying in a Walthamstow park in the early hours by police.
The killing led to the cancellation of Walthamstow's celebration of the handover of the Olympics to London.

Council leader Clyde Loakes said: "I was devastated to learn that instead of celebrating London officially becoming the next Olympic host, in Walthamstow we would be mourning the loss of another young life."

Two suspects, aged 17 and 19, were arrested nearby and the youngest needed hospital treatment for a minor slash wound to his arm.

It is thought CJ, who lived in nearby Leytonstone with mum Melanie and dad Charles, was attacked by members of a gang.

But pals insisted he was not in a gang and his heartbroken gran Weda Campbell said his family were devastated. She added: "He was supposed to go to college in September. He wanted to be a mechanic. He was a very good boy, a beautiful boy."