Islington (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Five men have been convicted of murder after killing two individuals in Archway, Islington, mistaking them for rival gang members in a targeted attack.
Lorik Lupqi, 21 St. John’s Way, N19 (22.09.2003), 29 (03.01.1996) of Caldy Walk, N1, Abel Chunda Jason Furtado of Halton Road, N1, age 28 (18.12.1996) On Wednesday, July 23, Xavier Poponne, 21 (06.11.2002) of Halton Road, Islington, N1, and Eden Clark, 29 (28.01.94), of Huddleston Road, N7, made an appearance at the Old Bailey.
All of the guys were found guilty after a 15-week trial of killing Leonardo Reid, 15, and Klevi Shekaj, 23, as well as trying to kill another man.
Detective Inspector Jim Barry of Specialist Crime North said:
“These violent men went into this estate with the intention of killing anyone they could, under the false impression that those there were rival gang members. This was a senseless, violent act which has shattered the lives of so many, especially Leonardo and Klevi’s loved ones.”
A sizable crowd had gathered on the Elthorne estate, Islington, on Thursday, June 29, 2023, in order to shoot a music video.
Around 8:30 p.m., Lorik Lupqi, an Islington gang member, noticed this gathering and used it as a chance to harm those he believed to be gang rivals. He said that “opps were outside” in a message to his girlfriend. Despite her advice to stay inside, Lupqi made the decision to call Jason Furtado, a close friend and gang associate.
Three gang members were enlisted to accompany them to the Elthorne estate after they devised a plan. The majority of people had left by the time they arrived two hours later, but some local kids and teenagers were still there because the filming was over.
After that, the group fatally stabbed 23-year-old Klevi Shekaj, who passed away in the hospital, and 15-year-old Leonardo Reid, who tragically died at the site. Another man was stabbed by them and sent to the hospital.
Many investigations were conducted as part of a double murder and attempted murder investigation.
Met Police’s Specialist Crime Command conducted investigations that involved forensic analysis, phone data analysis, and CCTV review. 50 brief phone conversations between this group occurred in the two hours prior to the killings, according to the data. The four proceeded to Abel Chunda’s residence after the incident and called Furtado, the organizer.
They were recognized as important suspects, and efforts to apprehend them commenced.
On July 3, Chuna and Furtado were taken into custody, while Clarke traveled to the Suffolk coast and altered his appearance in an effort to avoid detection. On July 12, Met officers swiftly found him and took him into custody.
Days after the killings, Lupqi, one of the suspects, entered Kosovo without authorization. His girlfriend had received messages from him telling her not to wait for him. On November 12, 2024, Met officers arrested him at Luton Airport after closely collaborating with Kosovan authorities, the National Crime Agency, and the Crown Prosecution Service to extradite him back to the UK.
Damning lyrics from a drill song written the day after the murders were discovered after Poponne was arrested in November 2023. These songs extolled the killings and alluded to aspects of the assault that only those who were directly involved knew about. He also made reference to Leonardo and Klevi’s lack of involvement in gang activity in these lyrics. He also changed his social media handle to “X3” in reference to the number of people he had stabbed shortly after the killings.
The group refused to take responsibility during the trial; some claimed they were only in the area to deal drugs and had nothing to do with the killings.
On Wednesday, July 23, they all showed up at the Old Bailey and were found guilty of two murders and one attempted murder. They are scheduled to appear in the same court for sentencing on Thursday, September 25, and Friday, September 26.
Detective Inspector Jim Barry added:
“Our team have remained focused on getting justice for those affected by this violent and unnecessary attack.
This dangerous group of men will now spend a long time behind bars but the effect of what they did will be felt by the victim’s shattered families for longer.
I thank the members of the public who tried to help and save the lives of those injured and have assisted our team with enquiries.
We will continue to tackle violent offenders and ensure that justice is brought for the safety of our communities.”
What impact will this conviction have on gang violence prevention strategies in London?
The conviction of the five men for the gang-related double murder in Archway is likely to influence London’s gang violence prevention strategies by reinforcing the importance of a multifaceted approach that combines robust law enforcement with holistic community interventions.
Such high-profile convictions demonstrate the effectiveness of targeted police action and judicial consequences in bringing perpetrators to justice, which can serve as a deterrent to potential offenders. However, the broader evidence and policy context emphasize that prosecution alone is insufficient to reduce gang violence sustainably.
Current London strategies, shaped by organizations like the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) and supported by research, stress an integrated model combining enforcement with prevention and support.