eenager stabbed to death in Goodmayes 'was trying to break up fight'

Crime reporter(wp/es):

A “humble” teenager is believed to have been stabbed to death while trying to stop a fight from escalating, police said today. 

Ziggy Worrell-Owusu, 19, was knifed repeatedly while out with friends amid a crowd of up to 60 people in Goodmayes, east London.

He had been at the Basement Shisha Lounge to celebrate a friend’s 18th birthday, but was stabbed during an altercation and carried out of the venue by paramedics before being pronounced dead in hospital about an hour later.

He was the 10th teenager to be stabbed to death in London this year.

Two 17-year-old boys have been arrested over the incident and bailed until mid-December, Scotland Yard said.

Police today said that Mr Worrell-Owusu, from Hackney, may have been injured as he tried to break up an altercation. 

Detective Inspector Euan McKeeve said: "Ziggy was a popular young man and I would encourage anyone with information about this tragedy to come forward.

"One line of inquiry is that Ziggy stepped in to prevent a fight escalating between others.

"There were a large number of young people inside the Basement Shisha Lounge who would have witnessed this incident and the events that led up to it.

"Some of these people may be reluctant to tell police what happened, but I would urge them to come forward of their own accord and speak to us."

DI McKeeve also urged anyone at the party with phone footage or pictures to hand it to police, and appealed to parents of teenagers who were there to ask them to come forward.

A friend of Mr Worrell-Owusu told the Standard after the attack: “It was just a night out. He was a humble and calm guy, he never went out looking for trouble.

“Everyone is in so much pain because of how humble he was and also because he tried to help and solve a problem and in return suffered. He was an innocent guy that just tried to stop a fight. I’m not sure who the fight was between.”

Another added: “He was one of the funniest guys I ever met. I always loved seeing him. I’m so shocked this has even happened to him. I’m so heartbroken.”