A 16-year-old boy has been charged with the murder of Eghosa Ogbebor, 14, who was shot dead in Woolwich, south-east London, last week.
Eghosa, understood to be a young drill rapper, was gunned down near Woolwich Dockyard station on Thursday, April 2.
He was pronounced dead at the scene in Lord Warwick Street at around 3.40pm after being shot.
Eghosa, who recorded drill songs under the name ‘Y.Risky’, had released snippets of songs he recorded at school with his friends in the days leading up to his death.
A teenage boy, from Romford, was arrested two days after the incident and was released on bail until he was rearrested on April 9.
Today, the Metropolitan Police said the 16-year-old had been charged with murder. He will appear at Thames Magistrates Court on Saturday.
The police said an investigation remains ongoing, and Eghosa’s family continue to be supported by specialist officers.
On Saturday, April 4, officers arrested a 16-year-old boy and a 19-year-old man in Woolwich on suspicion of murder, and a 46-year-old man on suspicion of assisting an offender. All three were released on bail, police said.
A 14-year-old boy, 16-year-old boy and 18-year-old man were arrested on Friday, April 3, in connection with Eghosa’s death. They have also been bailed while inquiries continue.
Today, a further 16-year-old boy was also arrested on suspicion of murder. He remains in custody.
Flowers have been laid by neighbours and friends in his memory outside the schoolboy’s family home.
One read they were ‘so sorry’ for his family, describing the situation as ‘just awful.’
Another read: ‘It’s Easter and should be a time for celebration but they are grieving. It’s just awful.’
The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan labelled the killing ‘appalling’ and said: ‘My thoughts are with the family, friends and wider community in Woolwich following the fatal shooting of a 14-year-old boy.
‘There is absolutely no place for this heartbreaking violence.’
Speaking at Eghosa’s family home in Abbey Wood, his aunt revealed that he had told his mother he was going out to film a rap video and said his mother was ‘broken’ by her son’s death.
She told Metro: ‘He loved music he was so talented and lived for it. On the day he was shot, he had gone out to film a video with his friends.
‘He never came back. His mother is broken. He was so young, he had his whole life ahead of him. He was so young, just a boy.’
The Metropolitan Police said in a statement: ‘A boy has been charged with murder over the shooting of 14-year-old Eghosa Ogbebor in Woolwich.
‘The 16-year-old, of Romford, was charged with murder on Friday, April 10 and will appear at Thames Magistrates Court on Saturday, April 11.
‘He was first arrested on Saturday, April 4 and released on bail. He was re-arrested on Thursday, April 9.
‘An investigation was launched on Thursday, April 2 after police were called at 3.40pm to Lord Warwick Street following reports of a shooting.
‘Officers attended with the London Ambulance Service and located Eghosa Ogbebor, 14 with serious injuries. He sadly died at the scene.
‘Eghosa’s family continue to be supported by specialist officers.’
The force added: ‘An investigation remains ongoing and on Saturday, April 4 officers arrested a 16-year-old boy and a 19-year-old man in Woolwich on suspicion of murder.
‘A 46-year-old man was also arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. All three were released on bail.
‘Two boys, aged 14 and 16 and an 18-year-old man, who were arrested on Friday, April 3 in connection with Eghosa’s death have also been bailed while enquiries continue.
‘On Friday, April 10, a further 16-year-old boy was also arrested on suspicion of murder. He remains in custody.’
This is a breaking news story, more to follow.
