Eighteen-year-old accused over fatal stabbing in Hackney and also faces GBH charge

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

A teenager has been charged with the murder of 15-year-old Tashaun Aird in east London, police have said.

Romaine Williams-Reid, 18, has also been charged with grievous bodily harm with intent in relation to a second victim and will appear at Barkingside magistrates court on Tuesday.

Detectives are continuing to investigate the death of Tashaun, an aspiring musician who was fatally stabbed in an incident in Somerford Grove, Hackney, on 1 May.

A postmortem gave the provisional cause of death as a stab wound to the lung. Police believe he was killed after a fracas with a group of youths in a park.

In a statement released by Scotland Yard on Friday, Tashaun’s family said: “Tashaun was family orientated, he loved his family and we loved him dearly.

“He was passionate about his music and he loved drawing. He was a loving, caring boy with an infectious laugh. There are no words to avoid this empty void we now have, a huge part of us is now missing.

“He was a talented young boy and worked hard in his studies, particularly with his English. We are deeply shocked and saddened by our loss; we have lost a dear son, a brother, a nephew, a grandson and an uncle in Tashaun.”

Another teenager riding a bicycle was chased and stabbed in the same incident in Hackney, before seeking refuge in a convenience store.

The 16-year-old was found with stab injuries in nearby Shacklewell Road but police said his injuries were not life-threatening.

There have been 55 homicides in London this year and 28 fatal stabbings.