Quamari Barnes, 15, stabbed to death yards from gates of school in Kensal Rise in front of 'screaming' pupils

Police and forensic teams at the scene of the fatal stabbing on Doyle Gardens
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A schoolboy was fatally stabbed in front of “screaming” pupils outside a flagship London academy, witnesses said today.

The 15-year-old victim, named locally as Quamari Barnes, was attacked as he waited at a bus stop in Willesden, north-west London, at 3.30pm yesterday.

He fled back towards Capital City Academy collapsing yards from the gates of the school in Doyle Gardens, a leafy street of family homes.

He had been knifed repeatedly, the Standard understands.

Paramedics battled to save the boy’s life before he was rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead with his family at his bedside.

The street remained sealed off behind police tape this morning as police carried out house-to-house inquiries and forensic officers collected evidence.

A 50-year-old neighbour told the Standard: “It happened right after school. All the kids were running around like usual but then it just went quiet.

A forensics officer at the scene of the stabbing last night

“I got up to draw the curtains and saw kids running away, screaming.

“Some school kids were crowding around another boy who was on the floor.

“The police turned up in a van and an ambulance took him away. There were loads of kids hovering around and police had to order them to go home.

“The kids can be rowdy sometimes playfighting and pushing over bins but I never imagined something like this could happen.”

Another witness said: “All I know is that the lad was stabbed after being chased up from the bus stop opposite Roundwood Park. He was screaming ‘he’s going to stab me’ repeatedly whilst his attacker chased him.

“He was then stabbed just outside Capital City Academy and passed away in hospital.”

A 48-year-old neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “I got back soon after it happened. There were loads of police, loads of kids. I thought it was just a punch up.

“He said goodbye to his mum in hospital.

“It’s awful. The poor parents. I’m a father, I’ve got kids, I want them to live. I want them to grow up in an environment where it’s safe.

“You see a few fights round here, but it’s more handbags at dawn. This is another level.”

The boy is the second teenager to be knifed to death on the streets of London this year.

Tributes to the teenager poured in on social media following news of his death.

Shavonne Zoey wrote: “Words can’t describe how heartbroken I am.. Rip my lil bro Quamari.”

Community worker Hepzibah Oliver said: “Another premature death of another youth in our NW10 community.

“There will be no more laughter, no more jokes nor teasing heard from 15 year old Quamari, who was stabbed earlier this afternoon outside our local school, my condolences to the family.”

Another added: “Such a bubbly, happy & also cheeky little boy. Rest in peace Quamari.”

Business studies student Djojo Nsaka, 19, was found collapsed from a single knife wound outside his university halls of residence near Wembley Stadium on Friday.

The specialist sports and arts school, in a building designed by Sir Norman Foster, was officially opened by then Prime Minister Tony Blair in 2004 as the first in New Labour’s academy programme.

Ofsted inspectors praised pupil behaviour in their most recent report in 2015, in which it was rated as Good.

A Met spokesman said the boy’s family had been informed of his death.

The Homicide and Major Crime Command has been informed and are investigating.

Any witnesses or anyone with any information is urged to contact police via 101 or by tweeting @MetCC

To give information anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org

:: A man in his 20s is fighting for his life in hospital after he was repeatedly stabbed during an attack in Homerton, east London. The victim knifed in Harrowgate Road after being chased by a gang at around 6pm last night.

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