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TRIBUTES: Quamari's school mates dedicated collages, flowers and balloons to his memory

AS COMMUNITIES continue to express their deep sadness and sense of injustice at the news of 15 year-old Quamari Barnes' death, quiet rumours are circulating that social media may have played a part in his horrific murder.

REST IN PEACE: Quamari Barnes
The teenager was chased before being stabbed there times before he collapsed and died on Monday. The victim, who is said to have been a music lover, had been waiting at the nearby bus stop just after lessons on Monday January 23.

When The Voice arrived at the school yesterday, many huddled amongst themselves shivering in the foggy, overcast conditions, silently pondering the possibility of social media playing a key part in the tragedy. Some speculations are that the deceased may have marked out as a victim after a video surfaced on social media. All were tight-lipped fearing that the killer may still be on the loose, despite a suspect being taken into custody.

Barnes' father, who is of Jamaican origin, was too distraught to speak, having buried his father a few weeks ago and now facing the unforeseen task of arranging another funeral; this time for his son.

Only last week another teenager was murdered in north west London. The suspect in that killing is 20 year-old Ali Tas, of Eagle Drive, NW9 who appears in custody at Hendon Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, 24 January to answer the charge of murdering 19 year-old Djodjo Nsaka in Fulton Road, Wembley on Friday, 20 January.

A record number of 29 teenagers were murdered in London in 2008, topping the previous worst toll of 27 in 2007.There was a steep decline to 15 teenage murders in the capital in 2009. A total of 19 teenagers were unlawfully killed in London in 2010, while 15 teenagers were murdered in the capital in 2011. Eight teenagers were murdered in London in 2012, but the figure rose to 12 in 2013, before falling to 11 in 2014. The death toll rose again in 2016 to 19, 15 of whom were fatally stabbed.

Any witnesses or anyone with any information is urged to telephone the police on 020 8358 0200 or 101 or Tweet @MetCC.

To give information anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or click here.

An online memorial fund has been launched to assist the teenager’s family with funeral and other costs. On the
GoFundMe page, Quamari's Godmother Sasha Mitchell noted:

"We send our children to school and trust that they are safe but Quamari was chased down...and stabbed to death. He was a respectful loving boy and it truly breaks my heart that we lost him in this way. He wasn’t in gangs, drugs or any crime."

To donate, click here.

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