John
04-18-2010, 05:27 PM
Police have launched a murder inquiry after a 16-year-old boy was stabbed to death outside a birthday party in the early hours of the morning.
Officers were called shortly after midnight following reports of a disturbance close to the Croydon Sports Arena in south London.
The venue in Albert Road had been holding a 16th birthday celebration and the victim was not thought to have been a guest at the party.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "On arrival they found a youth in a walkway near the club with serious chest wounds."
He was pronounced dead at the scene and next of kin have been informed.
Officers are aware of the victim's identity but await formal identification, the spokesman said. A post-mortem examination is due to take place later.
A 15-year-old youth was arrested nearby on suspicion of murder and possession of an offensive weapon.
He remains in custody at a south London police station.
The spokesman said that at about 11pm, there had been an incident at the same location.
"A group of six to eight males tried to gatecrash the same venue which was holding a 16th birthday celebration.
"At this early stage it is believed the victim was not a guest at the party and it is unclear what he was doing in the area."
Detective Inspector Alison Hepworth, from Homicide and Serious Crime Command, said: "We know there were many guests at the party and would appeal to them to come forward with information on what happened."
Officers were called shortly after midnight following reports of a disturbance close to the Croydon Sports Arena in south London.
The venue in Albert Road had been holding a 16th birthday celebration and the victim was not thought to have been a guest at the party.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "On arrival they found a youth in a walkway near the club with serious chest wounds."
He was pronounced dead at the scene and next of kin have been informed.
Officers are aware of the victim's identity but await formal identification, the spokesman said. A post-mortem examination is due to take place later.
A 15-year-old youth was arrested nearby on suspicion of murder and possession of an offensive weapon.
He remains in custody at a south London police station.
The spokesman said that at about 11pm, there had been an incident at the same location.
"A group of six to eight males tried to gatecrash the same venue which was holding a 16th birthday celebration.
"At this early stage it is believed the victim was not a guest at the party and it is unclear what he was doing in the area."
Detective Inspector Alison Hepworth, from Homicide and Serious Crime Command, said: "We know there were many guests at the party and would appeal to them to come forward with information on what happened."