Friends tell of their devastation after boy, 17, is found beaten to death in south London

Jerrell Elie, 17, found lying lifeless with “horrendous” head injuries in Camberwell
Beaten to death: Jerrell Elie, 17
Ben Morgan10 August 2015
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A teenage boy beaten to death in a south London street was a “humble and funny guy” his devastated friends said today.

Jerrell Elie, 17, was found lying lifeless with “horrendous” head injuries in Flaxman Road, Camberwell, at just before 9pm on Saturday.

Two neighbours held his hands as they waited for emergency teams to arrive. Paramedics spent 40 minutes in a frantic battle to revive him before he was pronounced dead at the scene.

A woman in her forties, who asked not to be named, said: “I heard some kids shouting outside and came running to him. He was lying on the floor with blood all over him on the pavement.

“I just talked to him and rubbed his chest. His eyes were open but he was not breathing. He didn’t say anything.

Floral tributes left at the scene in Flaxman Road Nigel Howard
Nigel Howard

“The other lady rubbed the blood from his mouth and was talking to him. I checked his pulse but there was nothing.

“The amount of police that turned up was unbelievable. There was armed police and lots of vans. The whole road was blocked off until the next day.”

Neighbours in the smart street lined with terraced townhouses claim to have heard a series of loud “bangs” minutes before the teenager was found.

One man in his fifties said: “About five minutes later there were hundreds of police in the road. They must’ve been in the area as they got here quickly.

“I saw the paramedics working on the boy on the floor. They must have been there for at least half an hour.”

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Neighbours said they thought the teenager had attended an all-day party at a community centre, around 500 yards away, before he was attacked.

A mother-of-one said: “It was about nine in the evening and we were getting off a bus opposite the youth club in Loughborough Road.

“We had my baby with us, we heard three bangs.

“My partner thought it was fireworks but I said ‘let’s go we have the baby with us.’

“Then we heard shouting and screaming and we saw some black girls about 17 or 18 crying outside the club.

“We later heard the MC from the party saying it was nothing to do with them. I think it was a Jamaican party.

Floral tributes and messages left at the scene in Flaxman Road Nigel Howard
Nigel Howard

“But I don’t think the police stopped the party, it carried on to about three or four in the morning because we heard the music.”

Today friends paid tribute to a “big personality” who was a talented footballer and played centre forward for his school, Evelyn Grace academy in Brixton.

One friend said: “I’ve known him for five years and he was a good guy. He had a good shot on him. He was a kind hearted guy and didn’t go looking for trouble.”

Another friend said: “He was a humble and funny guy, he had a good sense of humour.

“He was cheeky and a bit of a ladies’ man. He had lots of friends. He loved football, girls and banter.”

Last night a shrine was set up where Jerrell died with flowers and cards laid in tribute.

One card read: “You took care of me, always checking up on me, wanting to piggy back me when I’d complain about walking.

" A humble and funny guy, he had a good sense of humour"

&#13; <p>A friend of victim Jerrell Elie</p>&#13;

“I refuse to believe it. But when I see your picture I actually realise it’s real you’re gone.”

Another said: “It’s always when a person’s gone you cannot tell them how much they meant or how good a person they were.”

Detectives have launched a murder probe and a post-mortem was carried out yesterday at Greenwich Mortuary.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “Police were called to Flaxman Road, Camberwell, at approximately 8.50pm on Saturday, 8 August to reports of a fight in progress.

Officers attended and found a 17-year-old boy in the street suffering from head injuries.

“London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance attended. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

“No arrests have been made and enquiries continue.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 020 8721 4054 or via 101. Alternatively, if you wish to remain anonymous, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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