Five Men Jailed for Total of 189 Years After Brutal Stabbing Spree in North London
Innocent Teens Murdered in Case of Mistaken Identity
Five men have been locked up for a combined 189 years after stabbing two men to death and attempting to kill another in Archway, North London, last year. The victims, 15-year-old Leonardo Reid and 23-year-old Klevi Shekaj, were innocent bystanders with no gang ties. They were targeted after being mistaken for rival gang members during a violent attack on the Elthorne estate on 29 June 2023.
Plot Unfolded During Music Video Shoot
Gang leader Lorik Lupqi, 21, spotted a crowd filming a music video and assumed rival gang members were present. Ignoring warnings from his girlfriend, Lupqi rallied his gang. Before the attack, they exchanged 50 phone calls planning the brutal assault. Leonardo died at the scene, Klevi later died in hospital, and a third man was left seriously injured.
Chilling Evidence and Dramatic Arrests
- Lorik Lupqi, Abel Chunda (29), Jason Furtado (28), Eden Clark (29), and Xavier Poponne (21) were convicted after a 15-week trial at the Old Bailey.
- One suspect fled to Kosovo but was extradited back to the UK.
- Another tried to alter his appearance to evade capture.
- Xavier Poponne’s drill rap lyrics glorified the murders and revealed insider details of the crime.
Mothers Speak Out, Detective Hails Justice
Klevi’s mother: “No punishment brings my son back, but this sentence might stop others from causing such pain. No mother should bury a child over senseless violence.”
Leonardo’s mother: “My son was a beautiful, intelligent 15-year-old. The killers show no conscience. No sentence can justify their cold-blooded act.”
Detective Inspector Jim Barry said: “This gang’s brutal, pointless attack wrecked lives. Their victims were never involved in gangs. They’ll now spend decades behind bars for these horrific crimes.”
The savage murders have rocked North London and sent a stark warning about the deadly consequences of gang violence.
