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Unsolved murders in London: 2022

Seven murder cases in London from the year 2022 remain unsolved. Can you help bring the killers to justice?

Petru-Sorin Doleanu, 41, died in hospital on 29 March as a result of brain injuries he suffered during an assault three months earlier. Police said he was with two friends near the Job Centre in St John’s Road, Wembley, when he was approached by an unknown man and punched in the head shortly before 9pm on 17 December 2021. His friends called an ambulance the following morning and paramedics alerted police at around 11am. He remained in hospital until his death. A 24-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder on 15 July 2022 and released under investigation.

Daneche Tison, 26, was shot outside a block of flats in Bruckner Street, Queen’s Park, City of Westminster, at around 1.56am on 19 July. He arrived at hospital at around 2.10am but died a short time later.

A postmortem found he died of a gunshot wound to the heart, and also suffered a gunshot wound to the back. Eight men were arrested during the investigation but nobody has been charged.

Appealing for information in August, Daneche’s family said: “It’s been a month since we lost our beloved son, brother, grandson, and nephew Daneche Tison. Our lives will never be the same. Our sole mission now as a family is to find out who was responsible for cutting such a young and talented life short before his time, and will not rest until we do. We would appreciate anyone who may have any information, to please contact the police.”

Camilo Palacio, 22, was shot in Stuart Crescent near Wood Green tube station in High Road, Wood Green, Haringey, at about 9.30pm on 24 July. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 10pm.

The suspects are believed to have opened fire from a dark coloured Range Rover. At least six shots were fired, one of them hitting Camilo in the chest.

A 22-year-old man man was charged with murder on 4 July but the case was dropped on 14 September. Four others were charged with assisting an offender and perverting the course of justice and await trial.

Takayo Nembhard, 21, was stabbed in Ladbroke Grove under the Westway flyover at around 8pm on 29 August, the final day of the Notting Hill Carnival. He was pronounced dead after being taken to hospital.

A postmortem gave the cause of death as a stab wound to the femoral artery in the groin.

Takayo, a rapper using the name TKorStretch, was expecting a baby with his partner and had travelled from his home in Bristol to visit the carnival with his sister and friends. His son was born in November 2022.

Police said there was a large crowd in the area when Takayo was stabbed in an apparently unprovoked attack.

Takayo Nembhard, who was stabbed to death at the 2022 Notting Hill Carnival

Five men have been arrested on suspicion of murder during the investigation but nobody has been charged.

In August 2023 the charity Crimestoppers offered a £20,000 reward for information leading to a conviction.

During a renewed appeal, Detective Inspector Laura Semple of the Metropolitan Police said: “Takayo’s family remain devastated at his loss. His son is growing up having never known his dad.

“Takayo was a talented rapper and singer from Bristol who had visited the carnival with his friends and sister. He had done nothing to provoke the attack that day.

“We still really need the help of anyone who has information to bring those responsible to justice. I hope the offer of this substantial reward from the charity Crimestoppers with the appeal to contact them anonymously will encourage people to do the right thing.”

Takayo’s family said: “Takayo’s death has left a painful ache for all who loved him and still love him. He was so looking forward to being a dad and would have made a fabulous one as he came from a strong family unit. His son was born on 9 November and although this should have been a happy occasion, it was bittersweet. Our family, which includes his girlfriend, continue to struggle with coping without him on a daily basis. Our family beg the public to provide any info they may have, be that videos or photos that were taken on 29 August in the Ladbroke Grove area. Please help us to bring Takayo’s killers to justice and therefore some comfort to us knowing he didn’t die in vain.”

Information can be provided to the police via a website portal or by calling 020 7175 2206. Information can also be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Maximillian Kusi-Owusu, 29, was shot near a block of flats in Kensington High Street, West Kensington W14, at around 2.02am on 4 September. He died in hospital at 5.32am.

The father-of-two was known as a drill rapper under the name M Lo, according to reports.

A 29-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder but was released with no further action.

On the first anniversary of the shooting, Detective Chief Inspector Mike Nolan said: “Our investigation remains ongoing, and we are determined to find whomever is responsible for this tragic incident.

“Whilst we have carried out an extensive investigation, including a thorough review of local CCTV, we still require your help.

“It has been a year since Maximillian was killed and his family are still without the answers they need. I am asking for your help to identify who fired that fatal shot. I am certain that someone has the information that will allow us to make arrests.

“This murder occurred in the early hours of a Sunday morning in an area that would have been busy after people enjoyed a night out. Did you see or hear anything suspicious? We are particularly interested in anyone who has information regarding a silver Alfa Romeo Stelvio seen in the area of Radnor Terrace at that time.

“Please do the right thing and come forward. If you do not want to speak with officers, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

To provide information directly to the police call 101 or tweet @MetCC giving the reference CAD 824/04Sep22.

Michael Agyare, 24, was stabbed in Fairfield Road, Kingston, on 13 October.

Police were called at around 10pm after the victim sought help in a pub garden in Fairfield East. Paramedics and the London Air Ambulance attended but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

DCI Wayne Jolley said: “It is really important that if you witnessed any part of this incident, even if you don’t think it was important, please come forward and speak to us.”

Lemar Rashawan Urqhart, 27, was shot in Railton Road, Herne Hill, Lambeth, at around 7.50pm on 30 October.

He had been in a white MG car which collided with a moped rider while being chased by a second vehicle.

The moped rider, Guilherme Messias da Silva, 21, was finishing his shift as a delivery driver at the time of the crash. Guilherme suffered fatal injuries in the collision at around 7.50pm and died at the scene.

Urquhart, who was known as Perm, got out of the vehicle following the crash and was pursued by a man from a second vehicle before being shot. He died at the scene.

The gunman then got back into the second car and fled the scene.

A 19-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder in February 2023. Nobody has been charged and the case remains unsolved. (Previously a 25-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter in relation to Guilherme Messias but was later released with no further action.)

Crimestoppers are offering a £20,000 reward leading to the arrest and prosecution of the gunman.

The parents of Lemar are grieving the loss of their son and would like to appeal to anyone with information to come forward and assist the police in their investigation.
Statement by family of Lemar Urquhart

Guilherme Messias’s mother Rosangela said in a statement: “I am here to tell you how devastated and shattered I am by the premature death of my son who went to the United Kingdom in search of a better life for himself and our family. Unfortunately, Guilherme’s death happened in a tragic way, and it was caused by irresponsible people who deserve to be punished for taking away the life of an innocent person. My son was a calm, quiet and hardworking boy. My sadness goes beyond my soul for losing my beloved son.”

Note: Unsolved in this context refers to cases which have not yet resulted in a murder charge or a conviction. Cases may be added or removed when further information about the status of investigations is received.

London homicide statistics 2022: Year in Review

We have counted 107 homicides in London for 2022. Although that figure may rise or fall depending on the outcome of investigations, it amounts to around an 18 per cent fall from the 128 we counted in 2021. It suggests that we haven’t yet seen a post-Covid surge in murders, despite a brief spike during the summer heatwave. Maybe we never will.

The Metropolitan Police statistics dashboard, as of today’s date, shows a figure of 111 homicides, a 17 decrease from 134 in 2021. The chart below shows how 2022 progressed compared to previous years.

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Murdermap’s figures are always slightly different, as the police recording practice is slightly different for several reasons, plus they may be including cases that have not yet entered the public domain. A recent press release from the Met on 6 January revealed that their figures included five homicides that happened in 2021 (this is one of the ways their record keeping differs).

Our homicide map for 2022 also allows you to filter by sex, weapon, borough, age range and date, with a separate page giving statistics for the months, boroughs, age range, location and case status.

In brief, our breakdown of the 107 homicides is as follows:
Male: 79
Female: 28
Teenagers: 14 (all of which involved a knife, with 16 male and 1 female)

Weapon:
Gun: 9
Knife: 67
No weapon (hands, feet etc): 16

Location:
Street: 50
Residential: 40
Park: 8

Borough (Top 3):
Brent: 8
Lambeth: 8
Redbridge: 7

At the time of writing, 17 homicides remain unsolved, though this is likely to go down as investigations conclude. (The figure for 2021 is currently 14)

For completeness, the Met’s breakdown is:

14 teenage homicides in 2022, compared to the all-time record of 30 in 2021.
17 domestic homicides, compared to 25 in 2021.
9 “gun-enabled” homicides, compared to 12 in 2021.
6 “knife enabled” homicides compared to 83 in 2021.

The Met Police Commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, said: “Each and every homicide is devastating – these are victims, not just statistics. They all have families, friends and loved ones that were left behind when their lives were tragically cut short.

“Although the number of homicides fell last year, we are not complacent. We will continue to use every measure available to keep Londoners safe and bring offenders to justice.”

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Homicide victims in London in 2023

Total: 104 (last updated 25/4/24) Official Metropolitan Police total: 110 See the map of London Homicides in 2023 Fernando Johnson Kai McGinley Shaun McEvoy Trei Daley Chester Goffe Preda Eugene Rafal Zabiecki Sandra Giraldo Jordan Briscoe Alex De Jager Max De Jager Peter Littlefair Stefan Moraru Tyrese Miller Tiffany Regis…

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Double jeopardy: The murder of Jacqueline Montgomery in 1975

A killer got away with the murder of his teenage niece for nearly 50 years before a review of the case secured new DNA evidence linking him to the crime

The body of Jacqueline Montgomery, 15, was found when her father returned to the family home in Offord Road, Islington, in the early hours of 2 June 1975.

The teenager had been stabbed, beaten about the face and strangled with the flex of an iron. Her clothing had been partially removed, suggesting she had been sexually assaulted.

The room showed signs of a struggle and the phone had been left off the hook, possibly as Jackie attempted to call for help. The line had been engaged since the late morning of the previous day.

Detectives with the Metropolitan Police quickly focused on Jackie’s ‘uncle’ Dennis McGrory, who was then 28 and had a history of drinking and violence towards women. He had been the long-term partner of Jackie’s aunt until she left him and moved to Manchester to get away from his abusive behaviour.

Police believe that he attended Jackie’s home, near Highbury and Islington station, in the early hours of June 1 to look for her aunt.

McGrory had been drinking heavily in the N16 (Stoke Newington / Newington Green) area until around 4am and was later seen by a neighbour in an “excitable” state.

Visibly shaking, McGrory showed the neighbour a piece of paper with an address written on it, which he claimed had been been given to him by four men who assaulted him in the street.

Police were later able to show that the piece of paper was a page from Jackie’s diary which included the address of her aunt.

When McGrory was arrested, he had a bruised lip, a long scratch to his neck and smaller scratches to his wrist and arm – which he claimed were caused when he was assaulted by the “geezers”.

He was charged with murder on 10 July and went on trial the following year. However he was acquitted after the judge ruled there was insufficient evidence for a conviction and directed the jury to find him not guilty.

That verdict meant that he could not be tried again for the murder under the double jeopardy law that existed at the time.

The law was changed in 2003.

In November 2015, at the request of Jackie’s family, the Metropolitan Police began a review of the case and re-submitted a swab taken from the body in 1975.

That swab was found to contain a DNA profile which was matched to McGrory, who had been added to the database following an unrelated conviction in 2009.

The DNA match also provided evidence that McGrory had raped Jackie at the time of the murder.

It was enough to convince the Court of Appeal that the original verdict should be quashed.

McGrory was charged a second time after being arrested at his home in Milton Keynes in March 2020. He was first put on trial at the Old Bailey in March 2022, with prosecutors arguing he took his anger and frustration out on the victim when he could not track down her aunt. The trial also heard evidence that McGrory had made sexual comments to Jackie and had even threatened to rape her.

Although that trial was aborted when McGrory fell ill, he was convicted of rape and murder during a second trial at Huntingdon Crown Court on 19 December 2022.

Detective Constable Jane Mascall, from the Met’s Specialist Casework Team, said: “In 1975 there was no way of testing for DNA, so detectives had to rely on other forms of evidence. Samples from the time were carefully labelled and securely retained. And this is how they remained until all these years later when they were retrieved for further testing during a review of the case, as requested by Jackie’s sister.

“Forensic experts discovered a trace of McGrory’s DNA on a swab taken from Jackie which meant we were also able to establish that he had raped her, something officers at the time could not prove. This crucial piece of evidence has allowed us to apprehend this violent man who thought he had got away with murder. Kathy was determined that her sister’s case should not be forgotten and that determination has paid off.”

In January 2023, at the age of 75, McGrory was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 26 years before parole, meaning he will likely die in prison.

Jackie and I always said that we could trust no-one. A violent man who had been living within our family murdered my sister. He has been able to live his life. He has spent nearly fifty years as a free man doing as he pleased. I find that unbearable when my sister didn’t even reach her sixteenth birthday. His actions caused trauma to so many people and there were no consequences for him.

The investigation of the last few years has meant revisiting memories of the murder which has caused pain and stress for me and my family and I am relieved that we finally have justice for Jackie.
Jackie’s sister, Kathy, speaking in 2022

Detective Supterintendent Rebecca Reeves said: “McGrory is a violent man, a bully who terrified the women in his life. He thought he had got away with murder, but thanks to the hard work of specialist detectives and expert forensic scientists, he has now finally been held accountable for taking the life of a young girl in 1975.

“Jackie was courageous and bright. She stood up for her aunt who had fled from McGrory’s violence and abuse.”

Shot dead in his mother’s car: The unsolved murder of Leon Forbes

Leon Forbes was beginning to make a name for himself as a talented young music producer when he was shot dead near his home in in Clapham, south London.

At the age of 21, the father-of-two had reached the finals of the 2002 Mobo Unsung awards for unsigned black artists with his band Ghostt, had formed his own record label and was renting a studio in north London.

On the evening of 6 December 2003 Leon rang his friend and asked him to come round to listen to a new CD he had put together.

His friend arrived at the house in Daley Thompson Way at around 12.15am and they both got into a black Vauxhall Astra owned by Leon’s mother in a nearby car park.

Leon was pulling out of the parking space when his phone rang. He terminated the call and continued to exit the car park. As they drove towards the exit they passed a man standing in front of a stationary car with its headlights on.

Moments later shots were fired into the rear of the car, hitting Leon in the neck. He slumped over the steering wheel and the car crashed into other vehicles.

Two cars, one red and the second silver and shaped like a Saab, were seen leaving the car park shortly after the shooting.

Leon’s friend fled back to the house in Daley Thompson way to alert Leon’s family, who pulled Leon from the car and gave first aid until the emergency services arrived. Leon was taken to hospital but died at 9.20am on 7 December 2003. His second child was born a few months later.

Detectives investigating the shooting arrested five people in 2003 and 2004 but nobody has ever been charged.

The murder prompted Leon’s mother Michelle to team up with another bereaved mother, Lucy Cope, whose son Damian was shot dead in July 2002, to set up the group Mothers Against Guns and call for the government to take more action against gun crime.

Their high-profile lobbying campaign saw the pair meeting Tony Blair in Downing Street and visiting Bill Clinton and former New York City mayor Mike Bloomberg.

Michelle Forbes, who worked as a probation officer, died in 2021 without seeing justice for her son, whose murder remains unsolved.

In an interview with the Evening Standard in 2012 she said she could not understand the “wall of silence” surrounding the shooting. “Someone knows something about this. They are local people, I’m sure. It had to be someone who knew Leon.”

She had previously told how the family believed the murder was connected to Leon’s music. Mrs Forbes said: “Prior to his death, Leon said people were jealous of him – ‘player-haters’ who couldn’t bear to see people making a success of their lives. I told him not to be silly, but he said ‘Trust me’.

“Maybe they thought my son was too full of himself. He was a very confident young man. He said he was going to make it by the time he was 30. He spent every waking moment trying to achieve it.”

In 2022 the Metropolitan Police launched a new appeal for information about the murder.

Detective Chief Inspector Amanda Greig said: “Leon’s family have desperately waited for justice for almost 20 years. You now have the opportunity to give them that. Maybe you were reluctant to come forward at the time for a number of reasons, but allegiances and circumstances might have changed over the last 19 years and you may feel differently about speaking to us now. Please know, that any information you give us will be treated with absolute confidence. If you would like to ensure you remain completely anonymous, please contact the independent charity CrimeStoppers.

“Leon was only 21 years old when he was brutally murdered and he had his whole life ahead of him. He was an up and coming music producer and his career was going from strength to strength, he was renting a music studio in north London and his band reached the finals of the Mobo Unsung awards. He was the proud father of a little girl and he could not wait to meet his second child – but sadly that opportunity was snatched away from him.

“His heartbroken mother Michelle, a former probation officer, was the vice president and co-founder of ‘Mothers against Guns’ and campaigned tirelessly for the Government to impose tougher sentences on gun crimes. She sadly died last year and will not see her son’s killer brought to justice, but you can still give Leon’s family the answers they have patiently waited for by doing the right thing and speaking to us today.”

Although it was 19 years ago that Leon was taken from us, I remember it like yesterday. My memories are so vivid from that night – the smells, the sounds, the terror, the fear of that night when gunmen decided to come and take my brother’s life, leaving him to be found by his mother.

The one thing I cannot get over is the constant memory of my mother and I, taking it in turns trying to give my brother CPR and willing him to breathe. On the 7 December 2003 our lives changed forever and I know it will NEVER go back to how it was. My mother has now since passed and never got to fulfil her promise to Leon, to see those responsible brought to justice. This is often very painful and heartbreaking. I now have to fulfil that promise to her and Leon, I will continue to seek justice and one day face those responsible in court and ask them – WHY?

Leon was young, ambitious, confident and outgoing. He loved his family and friends and most people that met Leon, even for the first time, loved him. As a family we appealing to those who may know who is responsible, any information you have, to come forward and speak the truth. Some of you may even have children the same age Leon was at the time of his murder – 21 years old. Leon would have been 41 on 20 December, but for us as a family he will always be 21 as time has stopped since that day in 2003.

We have waited too long and we need justice to have some closure.
Leon’s sister Erica, speaking in 2022

To provide information either call the Met’s Specialist Casework Team on 020 8785 8267 or 101, or contact the independent charity CrimeStoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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