“Police were called by London Ambulance Service to Bethnal Green Road, E2, at 23:04hrs on Friday, 5 December. Officers attended and found a 15-year-old boy suffering from serious stab injuries to the abdomen. The boy was taken by London Ambulance Service to an east London hospital. He died in hospital at 02:12hrs on Saturday, 6 December.’ a Scotland Yard spokesperson said
Manager of Joel’s football team Bardag FC Yellows, Ricky Downes, said Joel, who was a winger, was ‘as good as gold’ and talented enough to play professionally.
“To say that myself and the club are devastated is an understatement, we are absolutely in bits. Joel was a wonderful young lad who had the world at his feet. He was a very talented footballer and had ambitions of playing professionally. I think he had a future in the sport and could have played for a living. There was something about Joel that touched me and his death is totally unexpected. He never gave me any inkling that he was involved in gangs or anything like that. He was cheeky, bubbly, and a thoroughly likeable young man.’ he said