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'BEGGED FOR HELP'
Desperate boy, 16, told pals he had ‘target on his back’ moments before being ‘hacked to death with a machete’
A DESPERATE teenager told pals he "had a target on his back" moments before he was knifed to death in 40 seconds at a south London railway station.
Louis Johnson, 16, was brutally stabbed in front of shocked commuters on Monday night - with cops since arresting a 16-year-old boy.
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Chillingly it emerged last night that the teen had been attacked just hours before the fatal stabbing, prompting Louis to warn his two best friends that someone was trying to "set him up".
Louis messaged his pals to say he'd been involved in a scuffle with a stranger in Battersea, south west London on the morning of his death.
The teen, from South Norwood, is then believed to have been followed before he was knifed inside East Croydon station during rush hour that evening.
British Transport Police said Louis was attacked on a bridge moments after he arrived at the station with a pal.
Horrified witnesses claimed to have seen a machete-wielding man, and the teen slumped on the floor bleeding after the attack just after 4.30pm.
He died at the scene and is the first teenager to be murdered in the capital in 2020.
Louis' heartbroken pals told The Sun Online that on the day of his death he had visited his Youth Offending Team in Battersea and was even promised a £50 voucher to get home early following the incident that morning.
Mia, 16, from Lewisham, first met Louis when she was 11 and spoke to him every day.
She said his mum “was his world” and he would have been thinking about her during his final moments.
He was going home to his mum but didn’t make it and was killed at 4.30pm.
Mia, one of Louis' friends
Speaking through tears, she told The Sun Online: “I saw him a couple of days ago, he was so happy.
“His mum was his world. He loved her more than anything. He had the kindest heart and was the nicest guy.
“He wanted to make it this year, he wanted to come off the streets. Everyone wants to be able to go home and Louis just wanted a peaceful life.”
She added: “He told me that someone tried to set him up yesterday morning.
“He was involved in a scuffle with a stranger and the Gucci pouch he was wearing was ripped.
“But thankfully he managed to run away and messaged me to say he felt like he was being ‘set up’.
“I think he was going to meet a girl but was then set upon.
“The people probably followed him to YOT and then followed him on to East Croydon where he was heading home to his mum.
“I told him to go home and make sure you stay safe and he said ‘you know me I’m always safe’.
“He was going home to his mum but didn’t make it and was killed at 4.30pm.
“It was probably postcode wars. You have still got people who are carrying knives and have beef with people when they shouldn’t.
“It all happened so quickly, he was probably lying on the ground thinking ‘mum, I love you so much’.”
'TARGET ON HIS BACK'
Mia said she believed her friend had been the victim of a targeted attack.
She added: "The person had a machete, clearly knowing they were targeting Louis.
"The police think they are doing everything they can to stop knife crime but it is so easy to buy a machete online within five seconds and click and collect.
"Louis would never approach someone he was unsure of. If he knew something was going to happen, he would take himself out of the situation. He was set up.
"He was the tallest, skinniest person ever and they stabbed him with a machete. That would have gone straight through him."
Another friend, Ashanti, 16, from Catford, added: “He would always make us laugh and would do anything to make people smile.
“He would pull funny faces and make jokes, he was such a good friend.”
'BEYOND HEARTBROKEN'
The family of Louis Johnson today paid tribute to the 16-year-old - remembering him for his love of music and generosity.
In a statement released by the British Transport Police today, his grandad and brother Omar said: "Louis was only 16 he was tragically taken from us at such a young age.
"He had his whole life ahead of him, all the things that any teenager could wish for. Louis was generally a shy boy who kept himself to himself but he was also very popular among his peers and has left behind many friends.
"He had one true love Liverpool football club and made sure he never missed any televised event which concerned them.
"He also loved music of every genre and didn't care if you called him a softy for listening to love songs all day. Louis would always go out of his way to try and help or please others and would literally half his last piece of bread with you if you asked him.
"He leaves behind a huge family who are all devastated. We miss Louis dearly and will continue to miss him until we meet again in a better place.
"We would request that our privacy be respected through this difficult period, we are beyond heartbroken.
"Rest in perfect peace Louis Christoper John Dean Johnson - 2003-2020"
Monday night's horrific attack happened as commuters began to arrive at the station to make their way home from work.
Emergency services including an air ambulance rushed to the scene, but were unable to save the teenager.
One witness said: ";He was walking away by himself. Then I thought he had been punched in the face and broken his nose or something.
"He was walking towards me on the bridge. For a few seconds nobody did anything, we were all in shock, and then people were running in panic."
STATION BLOODBATH
British Transport Police confirmed this morning that a 16-year-old boy from Balham, London had been arrested in connection with Louis' murder.
Detective Chief Inspector Sam Blackburn said: "This was a senseless killing at an extremely busy time of the day, and my thoughts are with Louis's family at this painfully difficult time.
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"For such a young man to lose his life in these circumstances is truly devastating, and I would like to reassure everyone that a thorough investigation is well under way.
"With that in mind, we continue to appeal for anyone with information to get in touch as a matter of urgency. The incident was over within a matter of 40 seconds, but I know many other passengers or members of the public would have seen what happened. If you have not already spoken with police, please get in touch."
Anyone with information should contact BTP by sending a text to 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 395 of 27/01/2020. Or you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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