Fulham Stabbing Victim Named As Nathaniel Armstrong
'Gentle giant' was cousin of TV weatherman Alex Beresford
Nathaniel Armstrong. Picture: Facebook
The 29-year-old man who died from stab wounds in Fulham in the early hours of Saturday morning (16 March) has been named as Nathaniel Armstrong.
He lived around 100 metres from the spot on Gowan Avenue where he was knifed to death.
Friends from the area described him as an exceptionally friendly person who was very popular in the area being known around youth centres where he played basketball. He was six foot seven and was dubbed BFG (Big Friendly Giant).
His cousin Alex Beresford who presents the weather on ITV's Good Morning Britain issued a statement saying, “I'm deeply saddened to confirm my cousin Nathaniel lost his life on Friday night. We were all so shocked to receive this news yesterday and our thoughts right now are with his mum, his brother and sisters.
“Nathaniel was a bright young man with his whole life ahead of him and this tragedy is yet one more example of a needless life lost to knife crime.”
Less than two weeks before his cousin's death, Alex Beresford had made a passionate intervention into a debate about knife crime live on TV. He said he had grown up in a affected by knife crime and that prison did not deter certain people from committing this type of offence adding that if the environment that these boys grow up in isn't changed then the problem will not be solved.
Alex Beresford on TV talking about his views on knife crime
Police investigating Nathaniel's murder have released details of a man sought in connection
DCI Glen Lloyd, who is leading the investigation for the Homicide and Major Crime Command unit, "This murder investigation continues apace. Police work at the crime scene is ongoing. Active enquiries are in hand.
"We are appealing for information from those who were out and about in the area at the time of the attack and saw anything of note. My team is particularly keen to trace a light skinned black male, approximately 6ft tall who was seen near the scene at the time of the incident. Did you see him? Do you know who he is? Anyone with information on his identity or whereabouts is urged to contact police."
The police were called to Gowan Avenue at the junction with Munster Road SW6, following reports of a fight in progress at 12.27am.
Nathaniel, was found at the scene with serious knife injuries. Before emergency services arrived he had been tended to by members of the public and then received further treatment from medical professionals but despite their efforts, he was sadly pronounced dead at the scene at 12.56am.
A crime scene is in place and officers are working to establish the full circumstances of what happened. Enquiries including forensic analysis and a review of local CCTV footage at the time of the incident continue.
The scene at Gowan Avenue
At this early stage there have been no arrests.
Gowan Avenue is the street in which TV presenter Jill Dando was shot on the doorstep of her home on 26 April 1999.
Any witnesses, or anyone with information, is asked to call the police incident room on 0208 358 0100 quoting ref 179/16 March. To remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. You can also tweet police via @MetCC.
March 17, 2019