Street stabbing boy is identified

A 14-year-old boy who was stabbed to death when he was attacked by a group of youths outside his home has been named as Shaquille Smith.

Shaquille was knifed in the stomach in Hackney, east London, on Saturday night and died on Sunday.

His 16-year-old sister suffered wounds to the face and neck in the attack and has now been released from hospital.

They had both been involved in an argument with a group of about 15 youths prior to the stabbing.

The boy's death brings the number of teenagers killed in violent circumstances in London this year to 25.

Police said they were called to St Thomas's Place shortly before midnight on Saturday.

Shaquille was taken to hospital but later died from a single stab wound.

Turf war

Det Ch Insp Carl Mehta said Shaquille and his sister Tahira had been walking with a friend when they became involved in an altercation with a group of youths.

Shaquille and his sister were attacked but the friend managed to escape.

"This was a tragic assault of a young boy a short distance from his home," DCI Mehta added.

BBC London correspondent Victoria Hollins said some people in the area had told her that Shaquille was the innocent victim of a turf war.

"I have been told that there is a group of young people who come over from the London Fields area, sometimes known as the Field Boys, who come over to the E9 [postcode] area.

"Apparently this has been going on since 2006 after an incident at the Notting Hill Carnival."

Shaquille's aunt Jackie Green said her nephew was outside his house when a group of youths walked past and attacked him.

"I don't think the others realised Shaquille had been stabbed at first, they thought he had just been punched. It's just terrible," she said.

A man living next door to Shaquille's family, who did not want to be named, said he rushed into the street when he heard the commotion outside.

He said: "I was sitting at home watching TV but I could see the shadows of people moving around outside and I could hear shouting so I went out and saw him lying on the ground.

"He was still conscious but his sister was screaming.

"I think she was in a state of shock, his mum was there too. I just can't think of anything worse."

The boy's other two sisters had also witnessed the attack, the man said.

Shaquille had four siblings and both his parents are social workers, according to police.

Detectives said they were keeping an open mind about the motive and no arrests have been made in relation to the attack.

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