Four men have been sentenced to a total of 79 years in prison for the brutal murder of 17-year-old Tyler McDermott and the attempted murder of his friend in Tottenham in 2023. The men were sentenced at the Old Bailey on Thursday, November 14, following a three-month trial that revealed the details of the fatal shooting and stabbing outside a music studio on Norman Road.
The incident occurred in the early hours of April 13, 2023, when Tyler and a friend left the music studio. Tensions had escalated after one of the defendants became upset about being filmed inside, leading to a violent confrontation. Tyler was fatally shot by Tyrese Barnett, and as he lay wounded, Leo Reid attacked him with a machete. Barnett then fired at Tyler’s friend, who escaped unharmed.
Detective Inspector Devan Taylor of the Met’s Specialist Crime Command praised Tyler’s family for their strength, stating, “Nothing will bring Tyler back, but I hope the sentences handed down to these individuals will help provide his friends and family with some form of closure.
Sentencing details:
- Tyrese Barnett, 20, of Moyers Road, Newham, received life imprisonment with a minimum of 30 years for murder, attempted murder, and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.
- Leo Reid, 21, of Tulse Hill, Lambeth, received life imprisonment with a minimum of 22 years for murder and possession of an offensive weapon.
- Rhys Antwi, 20, of Prentis Road, Lambeth, received life imprisonment with a minimum of 14 years for murder and possession of an offensive weapon.
- Kalam Bagge, 19, of Nimrod Road, Lambeth, received life imprisonment with a minimum of 13 years for murder.
The investigation involved meticulous analysis of CCTV footage and evidence linking all four men to the attack. Antwi and Bagge, though not directly inflicting fatal injuries, were found to have encouraged and assisted Barnett and Reid, leading to their convictions for murder.
The trial revealed the dangerous escalation of violence that night, with weapons, including a firearm, sword, and knife, brought to the scene. The police investigation continues to underscore the devastating consequences of violent crime, as Tyler’s death marks another tragic loss of a young life.
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