23-07-2025
Five gang members convicted of murdering two people in drill rap video
Five gang members, including an illegal immigrant who should have been deported nine years ago, have been convicted of murdering two people during the filming of a drill rap video.
Leonardo Reid, 15, and Klevi Shekaj, 23, died after they were mistaken for rival gang members at a gathering of 40 people in Elthorne Road, Islington, north London, on June 29 2023.
Lorik Lupqi, 21, Jason Furtado, 28, Abel Chunda, 29, Xavier Poponne, 22, and Eden Clark, 31, were convicted of double murder on Wednesday following a 15-week trial at the Old Bailey.
Lupqi, a Kosovan, and Furtado, a Portuguese national, were both on tags at the time of the killings.
Furtado, born to Angolan parents, had a lengthy criminal record and the Home Office had first tried to deport him nine years ago.
He launched at least two appeals against his deportation despite committing serious offences in the lead up to the murders.
Lupqi fled to Kosovo after the attacks, but was extradited back to the UK last November.
The five killers were also convicted of the attempted murder of Abdulla Abdullahi, 28.
During the trial, the court heard that on the day of the murders a large group had gathered on the Elthorne Estate to record a music video for an artist called Tight Right Baby.
Lupqi saw the gathering as an opportunity to attack the pair, and Furtado enlisted Chunda, Clark and Poponne.
The three men, who were not at the original gathering, were taxied from Furtado's address in Canonbury, north London, to the estate, where they donned masks and armed themselves.
Reid was stabbed in the chest, which penetrated his left lung and a major blood vessels, causing fatal blood loss.
Shekaj was stabbed in the back, also puncturing his left lung. He was driven to Whittington Hospital by members of the public, but he died on arrival.
Mr Abdullahi, who had walked past the video recording earlier that night, told police he was attacked by three or four masked people on his return to the area.
He was struck with a machete on the right side of his body, on his head and right knee, the court was told.
Jacob Hallam KC, for the prosecution, said: 'He thought he was going to die. He cannot say how long the attack lasted. He then heard one of the group say, 'leave him'.'
Mr Abdullahi struggled home and collapsed outside his front door.
After the 'murderous' attack, the taxi took Chunda, Poponne, Clark and Lupqi from the scene to Chunda's home address, the court was told.
Lyrics recovered from Poponne's phone allegedly 'glorified' the killings, jurors heard, and contained details that could have only been known by the attackers.
Shortly after the murders, Poponne changed his social media name to 'X3' in reference to the number of people he had stabbed, the Metropolitan Police said in a statement.
After the verdict, Det Insp Jim Barry said: '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.'
The defendants will be sentenced on Sept 25 and 26.
