November 15th 2024.
Over the past decade, the London suburb of Sydenham has become known as the infamous 'murder mile'. The area has been plagued by gang warfare, which has escalated to the point of being described as 'spiraling out of control'. This was made evident when a father-to-be, Curtis Green, was shot and killed in broad daylight on Wells Park Road this past Sunday morning. Amidst the chaos, a woman was also shot in the legs and another man was sprayed with bullets. Unfortunately, this level of violence has become all too common in the area, with six murders or attempted murders occurring in just the last 10 years.
One such incident involved 18-year-old James Hunter, who was stabbed to death on Wells Park Road in June 2014. His killer, 17-year-old Giovanni Dixon, callously described the attack to his gang members as they escaped on a bus. The motive? A perceived slight towards a member of their gang. More recently, in 2021, 17-year-old Levi Ernest-Morrison was brutally killed with a machete, with one of the assailants being driven to the scene by their own mother. The victim, who had autism and could not run very fast, was described by officers as being attacked in a "harrowing" manner. Tragically, Curtis Green's death marks the sixth murder or attempted murder in what has been deemed London's 'murder mile'.
Understandably, the community has been left shaken and feeling unsafe. Local resident Liya Makonnen shared her concerns, stating that "things have gotten very bad around here over the last few years." She continued, "a lot of young people are involved in gangs and it's gotten out of control." This sentiment is echoed by many, as gang rivalries have spilled over into the everyday lives of the community. The result? A once-safe, middle-class area is now plagued by violence and fear.
Sydenham has become a hotbed for gang confrontations, with rival groups from Croydon, Brixton, and Lewisham often clashing in the area. Residents have identified several specific gangs, including one that operates on the Sydenham Hill estate and another known as T1D, located just one mile away in Dulwich. The Lewisham Ghetto Boys and the Uptown gang, which operates on the Dulwich/Sydenham border, are also active in the area. Unfortunately, these gangs have given Sydenham its notorious nickname of 'murder mile'.
In 2019, a horrific incident occurred when a man was killed in a botched assassination attempt. Reece Ramsey-Johnson, 25, mistakenly shot himself in the chest while trying to murder Marley Lucas, who he believed to be responsible for the death of his friend. Another tragic event took place when a 17-year-old, Levi Ernest-Morrison, was stabbed to death in Sydenham. Shockingly, his killer's mother, Nichola Leighton, drove her son Tyreese Ulysses to find and kill Levi. The violence and disregard for human life are evident in a video that captured a witness exclaiming, "he's shot himself - he's f***ing shot himself." And in yet another heartbreaking incident, an 18-year-old was stabbed on Westwood Hill in August 2022, with police stating that he may never fully recover. The perpetrator has yet to be identified.
Sadly, the violence in Sydenham shows no signs of slowing down. In July of this year, a teenage boy was stabbed on Wells Park Road as children were walking home from school. The constant threat of violence has taken over the once-peaceful community, leaving residents feeling unsafe and helpless. It is a stark reminder of the consequences of gang warfare and the devastating impact it has on all those involved.
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