A woman who found her son murdered in their home had to defend herself from his killer, it has emerged.
Michael Alexander Jones, 18, was beaten and stabbed in the house in Edmonton, north London, on 3 March.
His mother Kathleen Kirby-Jones found his body but then had to barricade herself in a room when the suspect tried to attack her.
She paid tribute to her "considerate and loving" son. A 45-year-old man, from Lower Edmonton, has been arrested.
Police said Mr Jones had been hit by a machete-type weapon and believe it might have been a "targeted attack".
Ms Kirby-Jones found her son dead in the computer room of their house.
The attacker, who had been upstairs, then ran downstairs and tried to force his way into the room.
He fled after she called police on her mobile phone.
"We cannot imagine a worse scenario for a mother to have to find her son murdered and then try to defend herself"
Ms Kirby-Jones told reporters that her son was "a joker" who wanted to be a town planner or a teacher.
She added: "He was always making jokes, always so helpful, so considerate and loving.
"He loved his books, he really enjoyed his university work, he was fashion conscious, loved clothes and was even a little vain."
His father Michael said: "He was a role model to his nephews, cousins, and younger kids, every kid he knew looked up to him.
"He was always an avid reader, I gave him books and said 'this is what you can achieve'."
Ms Kirby-Jones added: "I cannot comprehend the anger, the hatred that this person must have felt to have done something like this.
"I just want the people who have done this to be caught."
Det Ch Insp John Macdonald said: "We cannot imagine a worse scenario for a mother to have to find her son murdered and then try to defend herself."
He added: "The level of violence and the activity carried out in the flat, such as waiting there for a period of time, is not consistent with burglary or even aggravated-type burglary.
"It looks like it was a targeted attack for some reason."
Detectives are still appealing for help in tracing some of Michael's personal possessions which are missing from the family home.
They include a gold chain, a ring and a pair of glasses.
The ring, also made of gold, had MJ inscribed on it, with three white stones embedded in the letter M.
The third item is a pair of glasses with gunmetal frames, which Mr Jones is seen wearing in the picture.
Officers are also looking for a blue 3 Series BMW with the registration number N118 FLA.
Police have said the car may be in one of the north-west London areas of Wembley, Willesden or Enfield.
The suspect arrested by police on Monday remains in police custody.
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