A family said they were in 'deep shock' after a 16-year-old boy was murdered by a gang of teenagers
Up to ten attackers beat up and stabbed Nick Pearton as he tried to escape. The gang were armed with baseball bats, knives and sticks as they chased him across Home Park Recreation Ground in Sydenham.
Heavily bleeding, the vicitim staggered into a fast food shop calling for help. His mum Kim was alerted by his younger brother and rushed to the shop to try and comfort him.
Speaking today the boy's tearful father Vince said the family were too shocked to talk about what happened. He said: "There's nothing I can say, we can't take it in".
A neighbour described them as "totally shell-shocked". She said: "It's been a terrible shock. We are a really tight-knit community. We all know each other. It is just what it has come to these days. No one can believe what has happened".
One 16-year-old boy said Nick cycled to the park to face members of a rival gang after a confrontation earlier in the week.
He said: "There was a fight over something silly. Nick was lying on the floor of the chicken shop bleeding. His mum came out screaming 'my baby boy, my son'. I didn't see him get stabbed, just on the floor. I don't really mix with all them lot around here because they are trouble, but I still talk to them now and then".
The front of MM Fried Chicken was covered with blue tarpaulin as forensic officers examined the building.
A Met Police spokeswoman said several teenagers have been arrested but did not provide details.
Metro.uk
