Enfield fatal stabbing: Victim, 18, thought everyone was kind, family say

Donovan Allen, 18, died from a single stab wound to the chest, a post-mortem examination revealed

An 18-year-old who became London's first teenage stabbing victim of 2022 "thought everyone was kind like him", his family has said.

Donovan Allen was found fatally injured at a property in Ayley Croft, Enfield, on Monday evening.

Paying tribute his family said everyone who knew Mr Allen, of Hemel Hempstead, "loved him so much" and he had a gift for "making others feel special".

A second person, an 18-year-old man, has been held on suspicion of murder.

He remains in custody, police said.

A 14-year-old who was arrested at the scene was previously released on bail until a date in early March.

Emergency services were called to Ayley Croft in Enfield

In a statement, Mr Allen's family described him as "exceptional".

"From the start he was surrounded by love and he went on to increase and attract more love as he grew," they wrote.

The family added: "He would pray for his friends and family every morning and night, and even the last morning one of us spoke to Don, he said 'I've said my prayers and done 40 press ups. I'm doing well, aren't I?'."

"There are no words to describe how much Donovan will be missed."

Mr Allen's football team, Hemel Hempstead Town Youth FC, have also released a tribute to him and will hold a minute of applause before their games this weekend to remember him.

They posted: "It's with immense sadness the committee share with you that Donovan Allen, 18, an ex-player of HHTYFC who played firstly under Brian Harding & Nick Payne and then under Steven Hutchins & Marc Bircham was fatally stabbed on Monday evening.

'Contagious smile'

"Donovan was such a likeable and kind lad, who loved football and will be remembered for his contagious smile. You will always be part of our football family."

Det Ch Insp Linda Bradley, leading the investigation into Mr Allen's death, said his family were being provided with specialist support through "the most unimaginable of times" and she appealed to anyone with information to help them find out what had happened to their son.

She said: "We urgently need to speak to anyone with information, particularly anyone who may have heard or seen anything suspicious in the vicinity of Bonnington House, Ayley Croft in Enfield on Monday, 7 February at around 18:00 hours."

A post-mortem examination found Mr Donovan died from a single stab wound to the chest.

The officer in charge of policing in Enfield and Haringey, Ch Supt Simon Crick, said detectives were "working at pace" and neighbours could expect to see a heightened police presence as door-to-door inquiries continued.

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