New Scotland Yard
Eight people were killed in 19 days across London Reuters

Eight murders in less than three weeks set June on course to become London's deadliest month so far in 2015.

Metropolitan Police detectives launched investigations into eight murders between 1-19 June after victims were killed in Brixton, Southwark, Newham, Islington, Tottenham, Sydenham, Tooting and Sidcup.

Five of the victims were young men – aged between 18 and 24 – while three were pensioners, aged 65, 75 and 82.

The spate of deaths meant June was on course to become 2015's deadliest month so far, however there has not been a single murder since 19 June.

So far, January recorded the most killings with 14, while there were 11 in February, eight in March, four in April and five in May.

Those killed included aspiring Tottenham musician Lukey Maxwell, 22, who was found collapsed on the street in Northumberland Park, Tottenham, in the early hours of 5 June after he was stabbed.

Popular Bermondsey man Tommy Blackmore died from fatal injuries he sustained trying to break up a fight near Tower Bridge on 13 June. Family and friends paid tribute to the 20-year-old the day after his death by walking from his home in south-east London to the scene of his final moments.

There was also shock after 18-year-old Stefan Appleton was hacked to death with a machete near his Islington home by an assailant who jumped off a moped before stabbing him and making off on the same vehicle.

Lukey Maxwell, Tommy Blackmore, Stefan Appleton
Lukey Maxwell, Tommy Blackmore and Stefan Appleton are three of the people who were killed in London in June Met Police

Deadly June

Nathan Murray
Nathan Murray was killed in Sydenham

1 June Nathan Murray, 18, died from a stab wound to his chest in Sydenham. Marley Lucas, 21, of Champion Road, Sydenham, was charged with the offence while a 16-year-old girl was bailed.

2 June Peter Lee, 75, of Welham Road, Tooting, died when he was crushed against his own wall in a car. Jason Lewin, 33, of Glenthorpe Road, Morden, John Palmer, 30, of Green Wrythe Lane, Sutton; and Stuart Palmer, 28, of Hounslow, were charged with murder.

5 June Lukey Maxwell, 20, was killed Northumberland Park, Tottenham, after he was stabbed. The aspiring musician's death sparked tributes from friends including rapper Chip. Arthur Gorol, 36, of Tregelles Road, Hoddeson, will stand trial on 12 October. Four men and two women were released without charge over the death.

10 June Stefan Appleton, 18, was killed when a pillion passenger on a moped stabbed him a number of times with a machete before making off on the vehicle along Nightingale Road, Islington. Two 16-year-olds, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were arrested on 13 and 14 June, along with three other boys of the same age, and were granted bail at the Old Bailey.

Peter Lee
Peter Lee was killed in Tooting

12 June Mark Hayes, 36, was charged with the murder of his mother Phyllis Hayes at their address in Idmiston Road, Newham. He awaits trial after appearing at Basildon Magistrates' Court.

13 June Tommy Blackmore died from injuries he sustained after intervening to break up a fight at Elizabeth Street, Southwark. The tragedy inspired hundreds of tributes including boats sailing along the Thames with flags at half-mast. Lloyd Smythe, 28, of Staple Street, London, has been charged with his murder and awaits trial.

17 June Ogarra Dixon, 24, was fatally shot in the chest at Marcella Road, Brixton. He was taken to Kings College Hospital, in Denmark Hill, but later died from his injuries. Crimestoppers have since offered a £10,000 reward for information leading to a suspect's conviction.

19 June Arthur Walters-Girout, 82, was found dead at his home in Sidcup. Raymond Sykes, 35, of Reugg House, Woolwich, appeared at Bexley Magistrates' Court on Thursday 25 June.

There has already been more murders in June (eight) than there were in May (five) and than there was in the same month in 2014 (five).

Overall, the Met Police has more than halved the murder rate in the capital since it spiked in 2003-04 at 204 – there were 92 in the 2014-15 financial year.

Detective Chief Superintendent Mick Duthie, in charge of the Homicide and Major Crime Command, said: "We know that one murder is one too many. We are not complacent and we and our partners continue to do all we can to prevent these tragedies from happening in the first place."