Eight homicides in London in the year 2023 remain unsolved. Can you help solve these crimes? Contact the police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 111 555.
Fernando Johnson, 23, was shot dead in in Rosebank Way, North Acton, Ealing, on 26 January 2023.
He was attacked shortly after he arrived home in a Mercedes car at around 2.15am. Fernando, an aspiring musician and former youth footballer, died at the scene.
A man was arrested on suspicion of murder and released on bail.
Detective Chief Inspector Matt Denby said: “We are keen to hear who might have been in and around the area at the time of this incident. I urge you to check doorbell cameras and dash cam footage for anything you may have captured – it doesn’t matter if you think it is insignificant, we still want to receive it.”
He was greatly loved by family and friends and well known to the community he always had a smile on his face and greeted everyone with a big smile and hug. He was a loving family man. He wanted the world to hear his story through his music. He was passionate about achieving his ambitions. He was a talented footballer and played for QPR as a youngster.
He was very polite and brilliant with people of all ages. It’s a great loss to the family and community, we will make sure his memory lives on. His mother, father, grandmother and two elder brothers are devastated like all of us. He was the apple of their eye.’
Statement from family of Fernando Johnson
Darren Augustin, 44, was stabbed in Brentwick Gardens in Brentford, Hounslow, west London, on 26 April 2023.
He was found injured after police were called to reports of intruders at the address in Brentwick Gardens at 5.15am.
Darren, a father-of-two, was pronounced dead at the scene. A postmortem gave the cause of death as stab wounds to the chest and abdomen.
Following a police investigation, an inquest was held in July 2025. The coroner recorded an open conclusion due to the lack of evidence on how Darren was fatally injured.
Emiliano Hasanpapaj, 22, was stabbed during a fight involving a group of people in Berkshire Gardens, Palmer’s Green, Enfield, at around 11.50pm on 11 July.
He attended hospital with a stab wound but died a short time later.
A 24-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder and released on police bail. Nobody has been charged.
Claudyo Jauad Lafayette, 17, was stabbed during a birthday party in Granville Road, Kilburn/North Maida Vale, Brent, at around 11.22pm on 14 July 2023.
He died at the scene and a postmortem gave the cause of death as a stab wound to the abdomen. A second 17-year-old boy was also injured.
Five people have been arrested during the investigation but nobody has been charged with murder.
On the one year anniversary, the Metropolitan Police renewed appeals for information. The Crimestoppers charity also announced they were offering a £20,000 reward for information leading to a conviction.
DCI Wayne Jolley said: “There were many people around on the night of Claudyo’s murder, some of whom saw or know what happened to him. I am asking you on behalf of the police and Claudyo’s family to tell us what you know. I also ask that anyone who may have captured any footage of the incident on their phone to get in touch.”
To provide information contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
I know whatever I say or do will not bring my son back, but I am pleading for your help to get the justice my son deserves.
Claudyo had a real sense of injustice when it was done to other people. He would always go out of his way to help others. His friends and especially younger children would actually wait for him at the school gate for whatever reason, he was their safeguard which says a lot about his character.
That’s why it’s my obligation as his mother to make sure we get justice for our son.
Claudyo’s mother Yzakia Jauad, speaking in July 2024
Ronaldo Scott, 21, was stabbed near Morrison Road, Brixton, Lambeth, at around 12.08pm on 4 September.
He collapsed at a children’s playground and died at the scene, not far from his family home.
Ronaldo also used the name Skengroy and had been known as a member of the UK drill group 150 based in Angell Town. His family said he had recently started a construction course for a career in the building trade.
Witnesses claimed several men jumped out of a car and attacked him in the street. Police appealed for information about two suspects seen on CCTV running away from the scene.
Police reappealed for information a year later in September 2024. Detective Chief Inspector Kate Blackburn said: “I am extremely grateful to everyone who has come forward so far to help us piece together the circumstances of Ronaldo’s death, but we know there are more people that we still haven’t heard from and we really need those people to get in touch. It is important that we hear from you now.
“Although we have made significant progress with the investigation, we need to gather as much evidence and information as we can to secure a successful conviction.
“If you do not come forward now, then you may prevent a family from securing justice for their son, grandson, brother and uncle. We will continue to support Ronaldo’s family throughout this painstaking process.
“If you saw, or have heard anything since, no matter how insignificant you might think it is, please contact us. At the very least your information could add certainty to details that we haven’t yet confirmed. Please, give a grieving family a chance of securing justice for Ronaldo.
“It has been a year since Ronaldo’s murder. A lot of allegiances and circumstances can change in that time. We understand that, for many reasons, people will not want to speak to the police, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously. They will not trace your call or your IP address.”
The last year has been incredibly painful for us as a family. We lost such a huge part of our family when Ronaldo was murdered. Our family will never be the same, we will never recover from this. We are pleading for anyone who can help us to come forward and either speak to the police or Crimestoppers. Please help us get justice. Ronaldo, we love you and miss you terribly.
Statement by Ronaldo’s family in 2023
Contact the incident room on 0208721400, police on 101, or the charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Max Moy Wheatley, 19, was stabbed in Jubilee Park near Tent Peg Lane, Petts Wood, Bromley, at around 2.30pm on 20 September.
Max, who lived in Orpington, died at the scene and a postmortem examination recorded the cause of death as a stab wound to the heart.
Two men were charged with murder on 1 October 2023 but the charges were later discontinued by the Crown Prosecution Service and the case remains unsolved.
On the first anniversary of Max’s death, his older sister took part in renewed police appeal for information, describing him as a “peacemaker”.
Max may have been 19 but he was just a kid, a kind boy who would’ve helped anyone if he could. Max loved music and spending time with his family and friends. Max wasn’t a horrible boy, he was young and carefree, he hated confrontation and was often a peacemaker between his friends and he would never hurt anyone as he had a strong sense of right and wrong.
Just for a moment I ask you to put yourself in our shoes, we currently have no answers or understanding of why my brother was cruelly and brutally murdered as he walked through a quiet park in Petts Wood. As a family we didn’t get the opportunity to hold his hand or comfort him in his last moments as he never left the park alive. We’d give anything to have been able to hold his hand or see his face one last time. As a family we are stuck in a constant state of despair, knowing that whoever is responsible for Max’s murder has not been brought to justice and knowing that another family could soon be feeling the same mental torture and pain we have been feeling for almost a year.
I’m asking you to think back to that day, the 20th September 2023 – if there was any information that could help us as a family get justice for my little brother and a small piece of closure for my family please contact the police. There are people out there that know what happened to my brother that day. You may feel the information you have may not be relevant, you may have thought nothing of it at the time, you may have heard something that can help, maybe a conversation or you may feel scared to speak up but as a sister who’s entire world and family was ripped apart through one mindless, violent act I am begging you to come forward and do the right thing. If this was your child, your little brother, your friend, you would want people to do the right thing and come forward so no other family experiences the same pain that we feel.
Detective Inspector Adam Guttridge said: “We still need to hear from anyone who may have information relating to the murder of Max.
“This has been a challenging investigation and we are seeking information about the events that led to this young man losing his life. We want to provide answers to Max’s family and ensure they see justice for him.
“I am especially keen to hear from anyone who has information about the incident or those involved. We also need to hear from anyone who was in Jubilee Park at the key time and has not yet contacted police. There is a dedicated online portal where information can be uploaded.
“Anyone who thinks they may have information relating to Max’s murder, however small or insignificant they feel it may be, should contact the investigation team on 020 7175 2206 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously.”
David Ackerley, 45, was found dead at his home in Cedar Court, Boston Manor Road, Brentford, Hounslow, after he was reported missing to police at 9.30am on 8 October.
A post-mortem examination determined the cause of death was a brain haemorrhage.
Police said he had been assaulted outside his home between 6.15pm and 6.30pm on 30 October and had received hospital treatment for an injury to his face.
Detectives are appealing for help tracing Jack Hill, aged around 22 and also known as Jimmy Brazil.
Detective Chief Inspector Geoff Grogan said: “David’s grieving family have many questions about what happened to him, and we are now trying to provide them with answers. Part of this important work is building a picture of David’s life, the people he associated with and incidents he was involved in. I’m sure many people will know and recognise David from the local area. He had his vulnerabilities and people will have seen him out and about. We still need the public’s help to know more about David, or about any incidents he might have been involved in. Please contact us without delay.”
Ilyas Habibi, 17, was stabbed near Sutton Railway Station in Sutton High Street, Sutton, at around 7.08pm on 5 December.
He was pronounced dead at the scene at 7.53pm. The cause of death was recorded at postmortem as a stab wound to the neck.
Detective Chief Inspector Mike Nolan said: “We know that Ilyas arrived at Sutton High Street by train. Minutes after he came out of the station he was involved in an altercation with the suspect who then fled the scene. Ilyas had suffered fatal wounds.”
Police said the suspect fled the country via London Gatwick Airport on 9 December. He has not yet been located and nobody has been charged with murder.
The following cases could be included but we await further information:
Ann Murphy, 77, was found dead in a residence in in Harold Road, North Acton, Ealing, after police were alerted to concerns about her welfare at 6.39pm on 25 June. She was pronounced dead at the scene and a postmortem found the cause of death was a head injury. A 74-year-old man known to the victim was arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder and taken to hospital due to concerns for his health. DCI Neil John said: “We have made one arrest and are not looking for anyone else at this time in relation to this investigations. We would reiterate our appeal for anyone with any information to come forward and speak with officers.”
