Watford stabbing: Teenager arrested after man ‘fatally stabbed during fight after three-car crash’

Another man with stab wounds was also taken to hospital for treatment

Alessio Perrone

Sunday 01 September 2019 14:45 BST

Luke O’Connell died in Watford in the early hours of Saturday morning

A 19-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a man was stabbed to death in a fight that followed a three-car crash in Watford.

Responding to a call shortly before 3am on Saturday, Hertfordshire police found Luke O’Connell, a 27-year-old from Watford, with stab wounds in Gammons Lane, at the junction on Leavesden Road, in the northern part of town.

Mr O’Connell was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead on Saturday.

Officers also found another man with a stab wound to his arm in St George’s Road, just a few hundred yards away. The man was taken to hospital for treatment.

Police believe the two stabbings are related and cordoned off both scenes in the early hours of Saturday.

The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims

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1/18The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims

The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims

Purple ribbons are seen tied to a tree and fence at a park near to where 17-year-old Jodie Chesney was stabbed to death in an attack with no obvious motive, in the Harold Hill area of London. Chesney was stabbed in an unprovoked attack while out with friends on March 1, 2019. Four males aged 16, 17, 19 and 20 have been charged with her murder which all four deny. In honour of her favourite colour, purple ribbons were tied to a railing, alongside a message also written in purple: "Choose life, drop the knife! RIP Jodie.

Reuters/Phil Noble

The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims

Floral tributes and bottles of alcohol are seen outside the house where 20-year-old Tyrelle Burke was stabbed to death, in the Wythenshawe area of Manchester. Burke was stabbed to death on April 5, outside his home by a friend following a night out. 18-year-old Denver Walton was charged with his murder.

Reuters/Phil Noble

The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims

A woman walks past floral tributes near to where 29-year-old Joshua White was stabbed to death, in the Hackney area of London. Joshua White died after he was stabbed through the heart in broad daylight on April 26. Two teenagers have been charged with his murder, and police are attempting to extradite an 18-year-old from Ireland in relation to the attack.

Reuters/Phil Noble

The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims

Floral tributes and photographs are left at the spot where 17-year-old Yousef Makki was stabbed to death, in Hale Barns. Makki was stabbed to death on March 2 during a row with another boy. A 17-year-old boy was cleared of his murder by a jury at Manchester Crown Court on July 12. Makki's family have protested against the verdict.

Photography by Reuters

The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims

Floral tributes and packets of crisps and a chocolate bar are tied to a fence where 21-year-old James Halewood was stabbed to death, in the Kirkby area of Liverpool. Halewood was stabbed to death in broad daylight outside a parade of shops at lunchtime on July 7. Two men aged 26 and 23 have been arrested in connection with his death.

Reuters/Phil Noble

The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims

Graffiti on a fence of an industrial unit near to where 18-year-old Hazrat Umar was killed, in the Bordesley Green area of Birmingham. Umar was killed after being stabbed 15 times in an unprovoked attack on February 25, on his way to the gym. Adam Muhammad, 17, a student at the same college, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life imprisonment for his murder.

Reuters/Phil Noble

The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims

Floral tributes are seen tied to a pedestrian crossing near to where 40-year-old Gavin Garraway was stabbed to death, in the Clapham area of London. Garroway was stabbed to death through the window of his car on March 29. Zion Chiata, 18, has been charged with his murder.

Reuters/Phil Noble

The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims

Floral tributes and teddy bears are seen outside a house where 26-year-old Kelly-Mary Fauvrelle and her unborn baby where stabbed to death, in the Croydon area of London. Fauvrelle was stabbed to death in the bedroom of her home in the early hours of June 29. Her baby boy, Riley, was delivered but also died four days later. Ex-partner Aaron McKenzie has been charged with her murder and causing the death of the baby.

Reuters/Phil Noble

The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims

Flowers are tied to the entrance of Sara Park near to where 16-year-old Abdullah Muhammad was killed in the Small Heath area of Birmingham. Abdullah died after suffering stab wounds to the chest and back in the evening of February 20. Three males aged 17, 19 and 20 have been charged in connection with his murder.

Reuters/Phil Noble

The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims

The remains of candles and tributes are seen near to where 19-year-old Kamali Gabbidon-Lynck was stabbed to death, in the Wood Green area of London. Gabbidon-Lynck died after he was stabbed by a gang on bicycles on February 22, in an incident which left another man suffering from knife and gunshot wounds. Three men aged 18, 19 and 20 have been charged with murder, attempted murder and robbery.

Reuters/Phil Noble

The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims

A woman pushes a pram past a row of houses where 33-year-old Charlotte Huggins was stabbed to death, in south London. Huggins was the first stabbing victim of 2019, stabbed in the back at her home in the early hours of New Year's Day. Her ex-boyfriend Michael Rolle was found guilty of her murder and jailed for life. He stabbed Huggins after she celebrated New Year's eve with a male friend.

Reuters/Phil Noble

The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims

Floral tributes are left at the spot where 18-year-old Cheyon Evans was stabbed to death, in the Wandsworth area of London. Evans died from a stab wound to the chest after being attacked by a group of youths in broad daylight on June 14. Three males aged 18, 18 and 17 have been charged with his murder.

Reuters/Phil Noble

The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims

Lanfrey Place is where 17-year-old Ayub Hassan died after suffering multiple stab wounds in the street, in the West Kensington area of London. Hassan was killed after his attack on March 7. A 15-year-old boy has been charged with his murder.

Reuters/Phil Noble

The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims

Floral tributes are left near to where 21-year-old Lewis Bagshaw was stabbed to death, in the Southey area of Sheffield. Bagshaw collapsed and died on July 21, when seeking help from residents of Piper Crescent after suffering stab wounds. Police investigations into his death are ongoing.

Reuters/Phil Noble

The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims

Flowers and toys are left at the scene where 19-year-old Lejean Richards was stabbed to death, in the Battersea area of London. Richards was attacked and fatally stabbed on February 5. Roy Reyes-Nieves, 23, and Roger Reyes-Nieves, 18, have been charges with his murder.

Reuters/Phil Noble

The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims

A man walks past floral tributes left near to where 24-year-old Joe O'Brien died after being stabbed in a fight outside a pub, in Manchester. O'Brien died following a fight outside the Royal Oak pub on April 21. Momodou Jallow, 21, has been charged with his murder.

Reuters/Phil Noble

The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims

Flowers are seen near to where 29-year-old Nathaniel Armstrong was stabbed to death, in the Fulham area of London. Armstrong was stabbed to death during an altercation on March 16. Murder charges against a 29-year-old male were dropped after prosecutors said there was no realistic prospect of conviction.

Reuters/Phil Noble

The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims

A police officer stands outside a row of terraced houses where 33-year-old nurse Saima Riaz was stabbed to death, in Rochdale. Riaz, a mother of three, was found on April 23. 36-year-old Mohammed Abid Choudhry has been charged with her murder.

Reuters/Phil Noble

The three cars – a grey Volkswagen Golf, a blue Vauxhall Corsa and a black Vauxhall Astra – were all badly damaged.

“As you can imagine, we are absolutely devastated at what has happened to Luke. He had his whole life ahead of him and we are heartbroken,” Mr O’Connell’s mother said in a statement released by the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit.

“We would urge anyone who has any information about what happened to Luke to please contact the police in confidence or Crimestoppers anonymously.”

Detective chief inspector Justine Jenkins from the Major Crime Unit confirmed that a 19-year-old man from Watford had been arrested on suspicion of murder and remained in police custody.

“Extensive enquiries are being carried out to help establish the sequence of events,” she said on Saturday. “I would urge any witnesses or anyone with information to get in touch straight away.

“In particular, I would like to hear from anyone who believes they might have dashcam footage of any of the vehicles in Watford overnight on Friday 30 August into this morning.”

She added: “Our thoughts are with the victim’s family at this awful time and they are being supported by specially trained officers.”

Watford chief inspector Matt Phillips said: “I understand this sad news will cause alarm to the local community and I would like to reassure Watford residents that we are working closely with MP Richard Harrington and Watford Borough Council to support anyone who has been affected by this terrible loss of life.”

Police are appealing to anyone who may have seen the cars before the crash that night to call 101 quoting Operation Orient.

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