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The Sun
6 days ago
- The Sun
Five guilty of stabbing Leonardo Reid, 15, to death in double murder during rap video shoot after teen mistook for rival
A VIOLENT criminal due to be deported nine years ago was yesterday convicted of a double murder. Jason Furtado, 28, was one of five men found guilty of murdering 15-year-old Leonardo Reid and 23-year-old Shekaj Slevi after mistaking them as rival gang members. 10 10 10 The victims were stabbed to death when Furtado's gang attacked a group of around 40 people watching a rap video shoot on an estate in Islington, North London. It can now be revealed how the Home Office first tried to deport Portuguese national Furtado in February 2016 but he launched at least two appeals to avoid eviction from the UK. The prolific criminal carried on his crime spree while appealing his deportation notice, carrying out vicious robberies and almost killing four people. He was jailed for four years in 2017 after crashing a stolen car into a group of people outside an Islington pub, leaving three men and a woman with life-threatening injuries. But even then, Furtado, whose parents are from Angolan and claimed asylum in the UK three months before he was born, still avoided deportation. An immigration appeal panel ruled he was entitled to the highest 'imperative' level of protection from deportation because he had been resident in the UK for more than 10 years. He and Kosovan co-defendant Lorik Lupqi, 21, were both on electronic tags when they took part in the June 2023 murders of Leonardo and Shekaj. Lupqi fled back to Kosovo after the attacks and was extradited to the UK in November last year. His brother Dior Lupqi is already serving a life sentence for an Islington gang murder. Dior was only 15 when he stabbed Nashon Esbrand, 27, to death in August 2017 and was given a minimum 12-year tariff. It can also be reported that a third defendant convicted yesterday, Abel Chunda, 29, has 97 previous convictions for offences including robbery, assault and possessing knives. Eden Clark, 31, and Xavier Poponne, 22, were also both convicted of two counts of murder. In addition, the infamous five were convicted of attempting to murder Abdulla Abdullahi, 28, who was also stabbed in the attack. The defendants - all from North London - had fought among themselves in the dock during the 15-week trial. 10 10 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.' The horror double murder unfolded on Thursday, 29 June 2023. There had been a large gathering on the Elthorne estate to film a rap music video, the Met Police said. Lupqi, a gang member from Islington, spotted the group at around 8:30pm. He messaged his girlfriend stating that 'opps were outside.' She urged him to stay inside, but Lupqi decided to message his close friend and gang associate Jason Furtado. They planned to meet up with three other gang members and go to the Elthorne estate. When they arrived, most people had gone, but a couple of local youngsters were still kicking about. The gang thugs then fatally stabbed 15-year-old Leonardo Reid, who sadly died at the scene and 23-year-old Klevi Shekaj who died in hospital. They also stabbed another man, who was taken to hospital. Met Police's Specialist Crime Command launched a double murder and attempted murder investigation. Enquiries found the gang had contacted each other through 50 short phone calls in the two hours leading up to the attack. After the brutal stabbing, the four went to Abel Chunda's house and called organiser Furtado. Chuna and Furtado were arrested on July 3. Clarke had fled to the Suffolk coast and tried to disguise himself, but Met Officers located and detained him on July 12. Lupqi illegally travelled to Kosovo days after the murders and told his girlfriend not to wait for him. The force worked with the Kosovan authorities, the National Crime Agency as well as the CPS, to extradite him to the UK. Officers cuffed him at Luton Airport on 12 November 2024. After Poponne's arrest in November 2023, lyrics were found in a drill song written the day after the murders. The disgusting words had glorified the murders and made references to elements of the attack which could only be known to those involved. The lyrics highlighted how Leonardo and Klevi were not involved in gang criminality. Shortly after the murders, Poponne also changed his social media name to 'X3' referencing the number of people he had stabbed. The group denied murder throughout their trial. They all appeared at the Old Bailey on Wednesday, 23 July where they were all convicted of two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. 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 bought for the safety of our communities.' Sentencing was adjourned until 25 September when they will face mandatory life sentences 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.' 10 10 10
Axios
18-02-2025
- Climate
- Axios
Polar vortex-tied cold outbreak pushes into U.S. from the Arctic
A week-long, unusually cold Arctic outbreak will bring frigid conditions to most locations east of the Rockies starting today. For some locations, this could be the coldest air so far this season. Why it matters: This event is likely to be more intense than the two previous polar vortex-related cold snaps in the U.S. so far this winter, according to University of Oklahoma meteorologist Jason Furtado. Threat level: The Arctic air is likely to send temperatures plunging to 35 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit below average for mid-February across the Upper Midwest and Plains states, with the cold barreling south and east through the end of the week. The National Weather Service is warning of "high confidence for record-breaking cold" beginning Sunday and lasting through the week. The coldest air is destined for the Upper Midwest, Plains and South Central states, per the NWS. The cold air is forecast to infiltrate Texas by late in the week. NWS is calling for "widespread daily cold records from the Central Plains into the South Central U.S." between Tuesday and Friday. "Some locations may see their record coldest temperatures for so late in the season," the NWS stated via X, noting that 32°F temperatures would reach the Gulf Coast. The East will also get significantly colder than average starting early in the week, the NWS stated. State of play: Computer models have been trending colder with this event over time, as weather systems align across the Northern Hemisphere to drive extremely cold air south into the U.S. The NWS is cautioning that there will be a prolonged period of wind chills as cold as minus-60°F across the Plains, and sub-zero wind chills may reach as far south as Texas, Arkansas and Tennessee. There's also an increasing likelihood of at least one strong storm that may affect areas from the Southern Plains to the Mid-Atlantic late in the week. As of Monday morning, the likelihood was increasing that this storm would produce significant snowfall in the Carolinas and southern Mid-Atlantic, but miss the I-95 corridor from Washington, D.C. northward. Between the lines: This event is consistent with some studies showing how human-caused climate change can favor winter weather patterns with a warmer than usual Arctic and colder than average midlatitudes. By the numbers: Here is how the Arctic outbreak may affect a few particular cities this week, based on the NWS' forecasts. These are details for the coldest days in these locations Minneapolis: High of 1°F and a low of minus-19°F on Tuesday. Chicago: High of 9°F, low of 1°F on Monday. Des Moines: High of 1°F, low of minus-8°F on Tuesday. Dallas: High of 31°F, low of 19°F on Wednesday. Detroit: High of 17°F, low of 1°F on Tuesday. The big picture: Experts told Axios that the cold outbreak is tied to the tropospheric polar vortex, as well as perhaps the vortex in the stratosphere. Other major weather players are influencing this, spanning from the tropical Pacific Ocean all the way to Greenland. The cold will occur at the same time as the Arctic sees unusually mild conditions, and a strong high pressure area and milder-than-average air takes over in Alaska, according to Judah Cohen, a meteorologist at Atmospheric and Environmental Research. Zoom out: The vortex is an area of low pressure with winds swirling counterclockwise around it . It usually keeps the coldest air bottled up over the Far North. Yes, but: In this case, there is more to it than just the polar vortex. Multiple factors will allow Arctic air to pour across the U.S.-Canada border, including a so-called "blocking pattern" over Greenland and "a spike in Arctic temperatures," Cohen told Axios in an email. One metric measuring the uniqueness of this coming weather pattern is at five standard deviations from the average, "which has to be relatively rare," NOAA's Amy Butler told Axios. The intrigue: Butler was referring to the pattern of air pressure over the Arctic and the North Atlantic, known as the Arctic Oscillation, or AO. When the AO is in its negative phase, it tends to favor warmer than average Arctic temperatures, and a surge of cold air for the midlatitudes. The bottom line: This polar vortex-related cold snap looks to be historic. This story was updated with new forecast details on Feb. 16.
Axios
15-02-2025
- Climate
- Axios
Polar vortex-tied cold snap to grip the U.S. next week
A weeklong, polar vortex-related Arctic outbreak rivaling any seen so far this winter is slated to bring frigid conditions to much of the U.S. east of the Rockies next week. Threat level: The Arctic air is likely to send temperatures plunging to at least 30 degrees below average for mid-February across the Midwest and Plains states, with the cold moderating some as it barrels east through late week. The National Weather Service is zeroing in on two "surges" of cold, one on Sunday and another Wednesday into Thursday for the Plains states. Computer models have been trending colder with this event over time, putting some record minimum temperatures and record low daily highs within reach. The East will also get significantly colder than average starting early in the week, the NWS stated in a forecast discussion. The big picture: Experts told Axios that the cold outbreak is tied to the tropospheric polar vortex, the polar vortex in the stratosphere and other major weather players spanning from the tropical Pacific Ocean to Alaska, all the way to Greenland. This event is likely to be colder than the earlier polar vortex cold snaps so far this winter, according to University of Oklahoma meteorologist Jason Furtado. The cold will occur at the same time as the Arctic sees unusually mild conditions and a ridge of high pressure and milder-than-average air takes over in Alaska, according to Judah Cohen, a meteorologist at Atmospheric & Environmental Research. At the same time, the upper-level polar vortex will dip south, near the U.S.-Canada border. Zoom out: The vortex is an area of low pressure that is a typical feature of the Northern Hemisphere's winter season, with winds swirling around it counterclockwise. It tends to keep the coldest air bottled up over the Far North. Yes, but: In this case, multiple factors stand ready to allow Arctic air to pour across the U.S.-Canada border, including a stretched polar vortex, a so-called "blocking pattern" over Greenland and "a spike in Arctic temperatures," Cohen writes. These ingredients increase the odds of severe winter weather in the U.S., Europe and Asia, he said. Furtado said the blocking pattern is more expansive, existing across the North American Arctic region, directing colder air southward. According to him, conditions in the tropical Pacific also are helping to reinforce the arrangement of weather systems across North America now. Context: Studies suggest human-caused climate change may be making polar vortex shifts more likely, but this is an area of active research. It also does not quite match up with the multifaceted event about to take shape. Cohen has published research tying rapid, human-induced Arctic warming to a chain of events, including disappearing fall sea ice in the Barents and Kara seas and increased snowfall in Siberia. Friction point: This area of climate science is hotly contested, though it is generally agreed that rapid Arctic warming is having an effect on the region's winters that can alter weather thousands of miles away.
