Two teenagers arrested after shopkeeper killed for refusing to sell cigarette papers

Father-of-two 'lost his life for no reason other than trying to uphold the law,' say police

Tributes to Vijay Patel outside the Rota Express shop on The Broadway in Mill Hill, north London (Kirsty O'Connor/PA Wire)

Two more teenagers have been arrested by detectives investigating the murder of a shopkeeper who was attacked after refusing to sell cigarette papers to a group of teenage boys.

Vijay Patel, 49, was attacked at the Rota Express shop in Mill Hill, north London, on Saturday night and died in hospital two days later.

A 16-year-old from north west London has been charged with murdering the father-of-two.

A photograph of Vijay Patel, 49, outside the shop where he was killed on The Broadway in Mill Hill, north London (PA)

Two boys, aged 15 and 16, have been arrested on suspicion of violent disorder, the Metropolitan Police said.

Police said Mr Patel had been working in the shop when three teenage boys came in around 11.30pm and tried to buy some items including ciagarette papers.


 Tributes outside the shop on The Broadway in Mill Hill, north London 
 (PA)

“Due to concerns about their age they were refused service after they were unable to provide suitable identification," a spokesperson said.

"The three were unhappy about the decision and became aggressive, threatening to vandalise the shop.

"As such Vijay and a colleague went outside after them to ensure no damage was done to the shop. Vijay was struck once by one of the teenagers causing him to fall to the floor."

His colleague was also punched by the teenagers and suffered minor injuries.

Detective Inspector Ian Lott, from the homicide and major crime command, previously said: “At this stage we believe this to be an unprovoked spontaneous incident sparked entirely by refusal to let the suspects buy what they wanted.

“A man has lost his life for no reason other than trying to uphold the law."