Murder investigation launched after teenage rapper stabbed to death in Peckham

Police were called to an incident in Colegrave Road in Peckham, south-east London, on Friday evening at around 7:19pm where the teenager was found. The scene was also attended by the London Air Ambulance, but paramedics were unable to save him after he suffered multiple stab wounds to his upper body.

Though the victim has yet to be formerly identified, he was named on social media as Showkey, a talented young rapper. He had apparently been friends with 17-year-old Myron Yarde, known as Mdot, who was killed after being stabbed in New Cross, also in south-east London, in April.

Speaking to the Evening Standard, Showkey's manager Junior Anim said he was: "just like any other young boy, full of energy with big dreams and aspirations."

He added: "His talent was undeniable and he would have been successful in music or any other trade or skill he put his mind to."

The teenager had also recently released a rap about the death of Yarde, in which he questioned: "Is the streets really worth it? The good die young and my n***** was almost perfect."

Showkey is the fifth teenager to be killed in a stabbing in London so far this year and comes less than a week after Andrew Oteng-Owusu, 19, was stabbed in Bermondsey, south-east London, last Wednesday. The spate of stabbings follows publication of official statistics last month revealing a 10% rise in knife crime in Britain compared to the same period in the previous year.

Graphic footage of the aftermath of the stabbing, which happened close to a large house party, was circulated on social media overnight. Meanwhile, Southwark Police, who are investigating the incident, recovered a number of weapons from the scene of the crime, but no arrests have yet been made. Appeals for witnesses of both Friday's attack and Oteng-Owusu's were launched by the Metropolitan Police, asking anyone with information to contact the police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.