Schoolboy murdered as children play nearby

Leroy James, the youngest of 10 teenagers murdered in the capital this year, was left slumped against a park wall on Wednesday as young children played nearby.

Horrified witnesses described the youngster as “sweet” as they said Leroy’s father was “in bits” as paramedics failed to revive him at the scene in Enfield, north London.

With two further teenage stabbings on Oxford Street – the UK’s busiest shopping area – on Wednesday night, Scotland Yard moved to dismiss fears that London was in the grip of a wave of gang violence.

Detective Chief Inspector Caroline Goode, the investigating officer, said: “There’s certainly no evidence or any intelligence at this time that this is a gang-related murder.”

Roxy Bagun, 19, who lives on the other side of the park, said she saw Leroy’s father at the park on Wednesday evening.

She said: “His dad was in bits, crying and crying and crying. I just didn’t know what to say to him.”

Miss Bagun said Leroy was a “good lad” who used to play football and basketball with his friends in the park.

“He always used to come and play football,” she said. “My friend saw it all. He told me how he saw Leroy lying there in a pool of blood.”

She added: “He was a good lad. I never saw him get into any trouble. They were sweet boys. He just hung around with kids his own age. His friends are so sweet and innocent.”

She said the killers have “got no fear any more”, adding: “They had the guts to do it right in front of a police station.”

Detectives said Leroy was in the park with his friends before when he was set upon and stabbed.

Launching a hunt for his attacker, Ms Goode said: “We know from what witnesses have told us so far that Leroy was in an altercation with at least one other boy. I’m completely open-minded as to the motive at this stage.”