Brent Cross stabbing: Moment man collapses and dies after being stabbed in the neck

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This is the shocking moment a young man collapsed in front of his friends after being fatally stabbed in a street fight.

Joseph Olopo, 21, was knifed in the neck after the brawl broke out in a street of family homes yards from Brent Cross station on Friday evening.

CCTV footage captured on a neighbour’s home security system shows a group of four men armed with metal poles and bricks fighting in the middle of Heathfield Gardens.

Mr Olopo was stabbed and collapsed in the road as passers-by called paramedics at 7.15 pm.

Members of a local synagogue fought to save Mr Olopo’s life using clothes to stem the blood pouring from his neck.

The group of men square off against each other in the street before one was fatally stabbed

A neighbour said: “We were all terrified and in shock but my friend who was first aid trained tried to help straight away to stop the bleeding.

“He was pressing on his chest for 15 minutes as the poor lad’s friends were screaming around him to save him.”

Victim: Joseph Olopo, 21

The victim’s friends used their coats to keep him warm before police and paramedics arrived.

Today the detective investigating his murder said a manhunt was under way for a number of suspects.

Detective Chief Inspector Andy Chalmers said: “Our understanding is that this was not a gang-generated attack, or an inter-gang conflict.

“We believe that all the parties involved were known to each other and we have identified suspects who we are actively seeking.”

Mr Olopo’s family has been informed and a post mortem confirmed the cause of his death was the stab wound to the neck.

One of his neighbours said: “I can’t believe this has happened. Joseph lived with his mother and father and two younger siblings.

“He’s got in trouble a few times last year and I haven’t seen him around for quite a while. One of his friends had to move away from the area.

“Joseph was a helpful young man, who would always say hello. I’m gutted. He was so young and had such a loving family.”

Another neighbour, 55, said: “It’s tragic someone has lost their child. This is normally a very friendly area with loads of families so we’re all concerned.

“It’s got so bad that I don’t let my children out at night - it shows that no area is safe. There were people coming home from work who were too scared to get involved.”

A 20-year-old man was arrested close to the scene on suspicion of affray and has been bailed to return on a date in early March.

Police also arrested a 17-year-old boy but he was released with no further action.

Today it emerged that Mr Olopo was banned from entering the borough of Barnet for five years after magistrates issued a criminal behaviour order last year.

He was arrested in Hendon in August 2016 after a fight in the street and later pleaded guilty at Hendon magistrates’ court to using threatening behaviour.

His killing is not believed to be connected with the banning order.

Police are asking for anyone with information to contact 020 8358 0100, @MetCC on Twitter or, to give information anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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