British model Harry Uzoka stabbed to death in West London in 'robbery gone wrong'

A 25-year-old stabbed to death in West London in what has been described as a "robbery gone wrong" has been named as Harry Uzoka.

Sources close to the family have confirmed to IBTimes UK that Uzoka was the victim. The Met Police is yet to formally confirm the identity of the victim. Uzoka worked as a model for Premier Model Management.

Uzoka suffered a knife wound to his chest and reportedly staggered through an estate before collapsing on the pavement in Old Oak Road, East Acton.

The incident unfolded shortly before 4pm on Thursday afternoon (11 January) and the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

"This is another tragic murder with a young male victim who has met a violent death," said Met Police Detective Inspector Beverley Kofi.

"We believe that the incident started Ollgar House, in Ollgar Close and the victim was assaulted and stabbed before staggering and collapsing in Old Oak Road. We believe there were a number of people involved, but we are still working to establish the circumstances and a possible motive."

Kofi confirmed that two men, aged 27 and 28, were arrested nearby on suspicion of murder and remain in custody.

"We have made two arrests and continue to pursue a number of lines of inquiry," he said.

"We need to public's help to piece together what happened - who the victim was seen with, the incident itself and the immediate aftermath.

"If you were in the area at the time and saw anything that could be of significance to the investigation, we would urge you to get it touch right away."

A source was quoted as saying by the London Evening Standard that the crime was thought to have followed an attempted "robbery gone wrong".

"My husband was walking our child home from school," Edtya Pustelny told the newspaper.

"They walked past three teenage boys who were shouting and ran past the garages. The three boys were then pinning a guy up against a garage and holding him by the neck.

"They were shouting they were going to kill him. My husband said he heard them shouting to give them something. It sounded like they wanted something from him."

The Met Police closed both Old Oak Road and part of Uxbridge Road as investigators examined the scene.

Once news of Uzoka's passing became public, his friends and fans began paying tribute on social media.

"RIP Harry Uzoka," tweeted music producer and DJ Juls Baby.

Model Jourdan Dunn, added: "Wow.... I just woke up to the news about Harry Uzoka."

Five people have already been killed in London since the turn of the year and the Met Police confirmed four of the five victims were stabbed to death.

Earlier this week, an 18-year-old was killed in Chislehurst, in the south east of the capital, while a shopkeeper was killed in Mill Hill on Saturday night. On 3 January a woman was found stabbed to death in Ilford.