Emergency services were called to Nottingham Cliff play park in the Burngreave area of Sheffield, South Yorkshire where Jonathan Matondo was discovered with a single gun shot wound to the head.
A 18 year old teenager was arrested on suspicion of murder at his home in Burngreave on Friday morning. Later that evening another 18 year old was arrested in Union Street in the city centre. A 26 year old man was arrested on Saturday at an address in north Derbyshire and is currently being questioned.
The arrests follow an emotional appeal from Jonathan’s mother, Teresa Matondo who tearfully urged: “Help me find why this happened to my precious son, my only son. He’s everything to me.”
Armand Vibila, Jonathan’s uncle said: “He was only 16, much too young to die and much loved by his friends, family and the community… This should not happen to our community, this should not happen to my Jonathan. So I wish to ask anyone to assist the police… If it’s possible of this tragedy to assist the police to catch them, and get them out of our street”.
Detectives were said to be investigating the possible connection between Jonathan’s murder and another gun related incident that occurred three hours earlier in Melrose Road. However, police ruled out any link with a shooting that occurred in the same area six weeks previously in which another 16 year old was injured.
The day after the murder, Chief Superintendent Jon House, the Sheffield police commander revealed that a number of people had come forward with information and anticipated that arrests may soon follow “shortly”. He added: "[t]he suspects are believed to be local and witnesses are asked to come forward. It is only with the help of the community, who are obviously very shocked by this crime, that we will be able to bring those responsible to justice."
Reverend Jack Kinsiona from the Light of Christ Church in Burngreave spoke alongside Armand Vibila at a news conference and went on to say that the teenager had expressed an interest in becoming a preacher. He said: "Jonathan was a great person, he had been to our church. . . I am crying now. . . I want to ask the government to find who killed Jonathan, because Jonathan was very popular in the church."
Armed police were said to be patrolling the area in which Jonathan was murdered to “reassure” residents that the “we will not tolerate gun crime in our city”.
External Links
Guardian Unlimited - Third man held over Jonathan murderGuardian Unlimited - Mother of murdered teenager mourns her 'precious light'Guardian Unlimited - Boy, 16, shot dead in gang gun battle
A 18 year old teenager was arrested on suspicion of murder at his home in Burngreave on Friday morning. Later that evening another 18 year old was arrested in Union Street in the city centre. A 26 year old man was arrested on Saturday at an address in north Derbyshire and is currently being questioned.
Jonathan Matondo
Family appeal
The arrests follow an emotional appeal from Jonathan’s mother, Teresa Matondo who tearfully urged: “Help me find why this happened to my precious son, my only son. He’s everything to me.” Armand Vibila, Jonathan’s uncle said: “He was only 16, much too young to die and much loved by his friends, family and the community… This should not happen to our community, this should not happen to my Jonathan. So I wish to ask anyone to assist the police… If it’s possible of this tragedy to assist the police to catch them, and get them out of our street”.
Detectives were said to be investigating the possible connection between Jonathan’s murder and another gun related incident that occurred three hours earlier in Melrose Road. However, police ruled out any link with a shooting that occurred in the same area six weeks previously in which another 16 year old was injured.
The day after the murder, Chief Superintendent Jon House, the Sheffield police commander revealed that a number of people had come forward with information and anticipated that arrests may soon follow “shortly”. He added: "[t]he suspects are believed to be local and witnesses are asked to come forward. It is only with the help of the community, who are obviously very shocked by this crime, that we will be able to bring those responsible to justice."
Reverend Jack Kinsiona from the Light of Christ Church in Burngreave spoke alongside Armand Vibila at a news conference and went on to say that the teenager had expressed an interest in becoming a preacher. He said: "Jonathan was a great person, he had been to our church. . . I am crying now. . . I want to ask the government to find who killed Jonathan, because Jonathan was very popular in the church."
Armed police were said to be patrolling the area in which Jonathan was murdered to “reassure” residents that the “we will not tolerate gun crime in our city”.
External Links
Guardian Unlimited - Third man held over Jonathan murderGuardian Unlimited - Mother of murdered teenager mourns her 'precious light'Guardian Unlimited - Boy, 16, shot dead in gang gun battle
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