MISTAKEN IDENTITY Five Men Convicted of Double Murder in Archway After Mistaken Gang Retaliation Attack

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Updated: 05:53
, 24 July 2025

Five Men Convicted of Double Murder in Archway After Mistaken Gang Retaliation Attack

Five men have been convicted of the brutal murders of a 15-year-old boy and a 23-year-old man after launching a targeted attack on the Elthorne Estate in Archway, mistakenly believing their victims were rival gang members.

Lorik Luppi, 21, of St John’s Way, N19; Abel Chunda, 29, of Caldy Walk, N1; Jason Furtado, 28, of Halton Road, N1; Eden Clark, 29, of Huddleston Road, N7; and Xavier Poponne, 21, of Halton Road, Islington, were all convicted at the Old Bailey on Wednesday 23 July of two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.

Victims Killed in Mistaken Identity Attack

On the night of Thursday 29 June 2023, the group travelled to the Elthorne Estate where a music video was being filmed, attended by local teenagers and residents.

Lorik Luppi, identified as a gang member from Islington, saw the gathering and believed rival gang members were present. He ignored warnings from his girlfriend to stay inside and instead assembled a group of armed associates, including Furtado, Chunda, Clark, and Poponne.

They arrived at the estate around 10:30pm, long after most people had left. Still, they proceeded with the attack.

15-year-old Leonardo Reid was stabbed and died at the scene.
23-year-old Klevi Shekaj died later in hospital.
A third man was also stabbed but survived.

Police Investigation and Arrests

Detectives from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command launched a full investigation, reviewing CCTV, phone data, and forensic evidence. Over 50 calls were made between the suspects in the two hours leading up to the murders.

Chunda and Furtado were arrested on 3 July 2023.
Clark attempted to flee to the Suffolk coast and alter his appearance but was found and arrested on 12 July 2023.
Luppi fled to Kosovo days after the killings. He was extradited with support from the NCA, CPS, and Kosovan authorities, and arrested at Luton Airport on 12 November 2024.
Poponne was arrested in November 2023 after detectives uncovered drill music lyrics written the day after the murders, glorifying the killings and referencing details only the perpetrators would know. He also changed his online handle to ‘X3’, implying he had stabbed three people.

Police Statement

Detective Inspector Jim Barry said:

“These violent men went into this estate with the intention of killing anyone they could, under the false impression that those there were rival gang members.
This was a senseless, violent act which has shattered the lives of so many, especially Leonardo and Klevi’s loved ones.”

“This dangerous group of men will now spend a long time behind bars, but the effect of what they did will be felt by the victim’s shattered families for longer.”