Friends have paid tribute to the young university student stabbed to death near Old Street on New Year’s Day, describing him as an aspiring pilot who was “full of life”.
Steve Frank Narvaez-Jara, 20, from south London, suffered fatal stab wounds at a flat in Bartholomew Court in the early hours of 1 January; one of four young men killed in New Year knife crime across the Capital.
A statement from his family said: “Someone has taken away our only beautiful son and brother without thinking about the pain and sadness that it has caused our family and friends, especially his two-year-old sister and two older sisters aged 15 and 16, they all loved him unconditionally.
“We pray to God that Steve’s death brings knife crime to and end.”
Three men have been arrested over the incident, which reportedly occurred after a fight broke out at a party nearby. Emergency services pronounced Mr Narvaez-Jara dead at the scene, while another victim was rushed to hospital and is recovering in a critical but stable condition.
More than £5,000 has been raised for Mr Narvaez Jara’s funeral via online crowdfunding page JustGiving, where family and friends have remembered a young man “who was loved amongst his family and peers”.
Katheryne Herrera said Mr Narvaez Jara, who was studying physics and aerospace at the University of Hertfordshire “was full of life and loved a great party” and added that his parents and three younger sisters had been left “numb and broken”.
Two teenagers were arrested on 1 and 4 January over the incident and remain in custody, while a third has been bailed to appear later this month.
Murder investigations have been launched by detectives from the Met’s Homicide and Major Crime Command after a series of unrelated killings in Enfield, West Ham and Tulse Hill on 31 December.
Commander Neil Jerome, of the Met’s Territorial Policing Command, said: “There were thousands of officers on duty across London and throughout the night, all determined to play their part in keeping the public safe.
“I am grateful to Londoners and visitors to the Capital who co-operated with police – both at major celebrations in Westminster and at thousands of organised and private events across London – to enable the vast majority of people to enjoy New Year’s Eve.
“However, there were small groups who chose to engage in disorder and violence, and whose actions have had utterly tragic consequences.
“It is heart-breaking that, at a time when so many of us are contemplating what lies ahead in 2018, four families are dealing with the grief of losing a loved one to senseless violence and the callous use of knives as lethal weapons.”
