Zac Olumegbon:”Operation protect” intensified in schools by Metropolitan Police
Police have increased patrols at Lambeth schools the killing of Nigerian school boy, Zac Olumegbon stabbed to death outside a South East London school gates.
Zac Olumegbon, 15, lay dying in his teacher’s arms after he was allegedly chased and repeatedly knifed by as he arrived at Park Campus School, in West Norwood, on Friday.
The boy’s family made an emotional plea for help in catching the killers of their “bright and funny” loved-one, as youth tensions across the borough rose.
Police were pelted with stones and other missiles on the Tulse Hill estate on Friday night, in an incident police believe is linked to his killing.
In a bid to diffuse further incidents, police have stepped up Operation Protect – its strategy of policing around schools and at home time.
And because Zac, a promising actor, was targeted on his journey to school, officers will now be stationed at every borough school before and after school until further notice.
Lambeth police borough commander, Chief Superintendent Nick Ephgrave, said there had been no intelligence any pre-school attack was imminent and that while extra officers would put pressure on resources it “was necessary in the current climate”.
Zac was attacked as he arrived at the pupil referral unit – for 11 to 16-year-olds excluded from mainstream schools – in Gipsy Road, at about 8.50am.
A postmortem examination gave the cause of death as stab wounds to the chest.
A 14-year-old friend of Zac’s was stabbed in the arm as he desperately tried to find safety back in school grounds.
The attackers allegedly jumped into the car – a green Nissan Almera, registration BP02 0TK, which was stolen on June 29, and was discovered in Holland Grove, Stockwell, on Saturday night – and drove off toward Gipsy Hill.
Police are appealing for anyone who saw the car in the hours and days before and after the attack to come forward.
Eight people have been arrested in connection with the killing.
Three were bailed, two were released and one, arrested yesterday, remains in custody.
Two teenagers appeared in court on Wednesday charged with his murder.
Anyone with information should contact police on 020 8721 4205, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 55
Related Report
Two boys aged 16 and 17 will appear in a Sutton Youth Court Wednesday morning for the gruesome murder of 15 year old Zac Olumegbon killed last Friday at the entrance of his school.
Zac who was stabbed to death as he arrived at a school in south London.
The boys are accused of attacking Zac near the gates of Park Campus School in West Norwood last Friday.
The pair will appear before magistrates at Sutton Youth Court in the morning.
They are also charged with grievous bodily harm against Zac’s 14-year-old friend, who was stabbed in the arm.
Zac’s mother Shakira Olumegbon, 53, said the aspiring actor had performed at a conference the day before he was killed.
She said the night before he died he was “full of hope”.
His brother Debo said: “If he was in a room talking, everyone would stop and listen to what he had to say.
“He was really funny. When we talked to each other we just laughed.”
Police were called at 8.50am on Friday to Gipsy Road Gardens, where they found Zac, of Brixton Hill, south London, suffering from multiple stab wounds.
He was taken to a south London hospital and confirmed dead shortly afterwards.
A post-mortem examination found the cause of death was stab wounds to the chest.
Shakirat Olumegbon, the 15 year old mother had spoken passionately about the last moments she had a motherly encounter with the teenager before meeting his untimely death in the hands of his murderers.
She spoke about how her son had dreamt of a holiday break in the United States the night before his death while also telling his mum how he planned to make a career in acting.
Mrs Olumegbon pleaded with the murderers to families to turn them in, saying: “We have to stop this.”
She said the aspiring actor had performed at a conference the day before he was murdered and told her about what he wanted to do in the future, just before he went to sleep.
Mrs Olumegbon said: “That night he was in bed and he said, ‘Mum, I know what I want to do.’ He said, ‘I want to go to America for a year and I want to come back to a sixth form college, and because of my performance they promised me a job as an actor’. He was full of hope.”
Zac’s brother Debo said he was always the centre of attention. “If he was in a room talking, everyone would stop and listen to what he had to say,” he said. He was really funny. When we talked to each other we just laughed. “When I talked to him and he told me he wanted to be an actor, his enthusiasm was great. He really wanted to do it.”
His sister Tayo, 28, said: “He was bright and funny. He was small for his age but he had such a huge presence. He had a beautiful smile.” The family pleaded for the families of the murderers to come forward, saying enough damage had already been done.
Clutching a photograph of her smiling son in his school uniform, the sobbing mother said: “I know a mother, a father, a brother or sister knows who has done this. It’s not revenge I’m after. But I want that mother to help bring our community together because this is too much. It’s happening a lot. We have to stop this.”
As her children comforted her, Shakira Olumegbon said: “He’s not a violent boy. He’s got a big mouth but he’s not a violent boy at all. He’s a small boy.” Tayo Olumegbon added: “He was afraid of certain individuals in the Brixton area, so he didn’t want to be around.”
Zac and a friend were ambushed at the gates of Park Campus School in West Norwood in a planned attack by suspected rival gang members. Four teenage boys were in custody on Monday. Two were arrested on Friday, one on Saturday and another on Sunday. Three other teenagers, all arrested on Friday, were bailed.
Police claimed the get away car used by the killer gang suspected of the murder has been found.
Zachary, popularly known as Zac, from Brixton Hill in South London, and a friend were ambushed by four young men at the gates of Park Campus School in West Norwood London South East.
The Car, a green Nissan Almera was found in Holland Grove, Stockwell, South London, on Saturday night.
Detectives are asking for anyone who has recently seen the car, which had been stolen, to get in touch.
The officer leading the murder inquiry, Det Ch Insp John McFarlane, said the discovery of the car was a significant breakthrough.
Zac Olumegbon was stabbed at the gates of his school
“It was stolen from the Brixton area on 29 June,” he said.
“We know it was used to transport the youths involved in the murder to the scene. We need to know its movements after it was stolen and after the murder.”
The victim’s friend escaped with minor injuries.
Seven male teenagers were arrested for questioning and already five have been bailed while still awaiting further interrogation, police said.
Meanwhile, the other two suspects remain in custody on Monday as police continue their investigation into the fatal stabbing.
Zac had been ambushed and stabbed through the heart outside his school’s gates.
A group of thugs were lying in wait in a car as he arrived school for lessons last Friday.
Zachari 's murder Car
The gang leapt out and chased the youngster and a 14-year-old pal into an alley. They cornered Zachary and stabbed him repeatedly in the chest before chasing the other lad into the school grounds. They knifed him in the arm before fleeing from school staff.
Zachary was rushed to hospital but pronounced dead an hour later. The other boy, a 14-year-old was not badly hurt.
The deceased was the 13th teenager to be murdered in London this year.
Police believe the killers were from the Tulse Hill Gang and were former pupils at the school for kids with behavioural problems.
Witnesses told how Zac was ambushed shortly before 9am.
Local shopkeeper Saima Safar, 30, said: “Three or four boys were waiting for him in the car and came out with a big knife. He started running.
“One of the female teachers saw what was happening and ran to try and save him. But they just stabbed him in the heart. The teacher tried to catch him in her arms but she knew he was dead.”
A teacher who witnessed the stabbing from a school window said: “There was a car with three boys in it. I recognised their faces – they used to be pupils here.
“They were carrying a large knife. One of my colleagues followed them, but it was too late.”
Shocked neighbour Sallie Campbell, 28, said: “The boy was walking towards school and the car came skidding down the hill.
“The boys jumped out and attacked him. I saw them all running, chasing him.”
Neighbour Martin Granger, 64, said: “There was a horrible blood-curdling scream from an alley opposite. I crossed the street and saw a boy unconscious. He’d been stabbed in the chest. I knew it was bad.”
Detectives from the Met’s Homicide and Serious Crime Command are investigating. Det Chief Insp John McFarlane said: “This was a planned attack.” Zac’s murder followed an incident outside the school on Thursday afternoon, when a group of boys threatened a pupil.
Stacey Lloyd, 22, said: “They were waiting by the gates and when this black boy walked out they said, ‘I’m going to get you,’ and then walked off smirking
Zac, from Tulse Hill, is believed to have been a member of the T Block gang.
Locals said his murder was a tragedy waiting to happen because of tension at the school between gangs from different areas.
One said: “There are kids from Tulse Hill, Norwood and Stockwell all in different gangs but put together in the same school.”
Mum Susan Brown, whose 13-year-old son Tony is a pupil at the school, said: “The trouble that goes on in there is frightening. It was only a matter of time before someone was killed.
“A year ago a gang came into the school and started attacking the children and the teachers could do nothing about it.
“This attack must mean the end of the school. No one can keep these children under control. They must shut it down.”
The school, run by Lambeth Council and led by head Richard Leonard, opened in 2008 and has 80 pupils aged 11 to 16 who have been expelled from other schools.
Zac’s family were too distraught to comment, but a Facebook page called RIP lil Zac was set up by pals as a tribute.
Other friends laid flowers outside the school with a note that said: “I will always remember you. I will always miss you.”
One friend choked back tears and said: “Zac worked hard at school and didn’t deserve to be involved in this.
Related Posts
Short URL: http://www.emnnews.com/?p=4429
Posted by 
