A new police statement reveal that when officers entered the house they also found a man and officers deployed a Taser in order to detain him, he was then arrested on suspicion of murder.
This 28-year-old man from Lewisham is currently being treated in hospital – he is in a stable condition and remains under arrest.
Special post-mortem examinations have been arranged for Tuesday, 26 April and Wednesday, 27 April after which formal identification is due to take place.
Four people were found dead inside a house in South London in the early hours of this morning (April 25).
Police were called at about 1.40am on Monday, April 25 to reports of a disturbance at a house in “quiet” Delaford Road, in South Bermondsey. Officers attended the scene and forced entry to the house where they found four people with stab injuries.
Despite the efforts of emergency services, all four people – three women and a man – were pronounced dead at the scene. Officers from the Met Police are in the process of contacting the next of kin. Post-mortems will be arranged in due course. Police confirmed the victims are a man in his 60s, a woman in her 60s, a woman in her 40s and woman in her 20s. One of the victims has since been named as 63-year-old grandmother Dolet Hill.
The man arrested was taken to a South London police station where he remains in custody. Police say that it is believed all five people were known to each other.
Forensic officers have been seen coming in and out of one of the properties this morning and there are four large tents erected in the middle of the street. Huge metal barriers are also in place.
Residents have reacted with shock today, telling MyLondon that some parents have kept their children home from school or even gone to relatives nearby. Andrea Rodger, 46, from nearby Bramcote Grove, said: “I’ve never heard of anything like this. It’s just awful. I don’t know the details I just know four people are dead.
“I have friends on that street and I’m really worried sick for them – a couple of my friends didn’t take their children to school today and they’ve stayed at home or taken their children to relatives a bit further away. It’s so distressing.”
Harriet Harman, MP for Camberwell and Peckham has also visited the scene this morning to express her condolences. She said: “No one expects this sort of thing to happen in this sort of neighbourhood. I know that the police have already arrested somebody. Someone has to be borough to justice for this tragic set of killings.”
Detective Chief Inspector Linda Bradley, who is leading the investigation into the tragic set of killings, has launched a fresh appeal for witnesses – or anyone with useful information – to come forward.
She said: “This was a truly horrific incident and I fully recognise that the distress for the family and the community will be overwhelming. We are conducting a thorough and detailed investigation into the facts and we are appealing to anyone who can assist with any information to come forward.
Detective Chief Inspector Linda Bradley, who leads the investigation into the four deaths, said: “We deeply appreciate all the help we have already received from local people and I would like to thank them for their patience and support in what is likely to be a protracted inquiry.
“We are moving as fast we can at the scene, but we need to ensure we uncover all the facts and secure every bit of necessary evidence and this may understandably take some time.
“We are aware that we have family, friends and a community that are all asking questions, we are determined to give them the answers they deserve as soon as possible.”
Denton Blake’s sister, Juliet Hutchinson, has paid tribute to the “chef of the family”, adding: “My brother did not deserve to die like this.
Heartbroken family members of Dolet, Denton, Tanysha and Samantha have paid tributes to their relatives at the scene on Delaford Road, Southwark, this afternoon (April 26).
A spokesperson for the force has confirmed the four victims as follows:
- Denton Burke, 58, and his partner Dolet Hill, 64, who lived together on Delaford Road in Bermondsey.
- Tanysha (also known as Rachquel) Ofori-Akuffo, 45, who is Dolet’s daughter and lived in Kennington.
- Samantha Drummonds, 27, who is Tanysha’s daughter and lived in Forest Hill, Lewisham, SE23.
Labour MP for Camberwell and Peckham Harriet Harman spoke to reporters including MyLondon at the scene of the murder yesterday (April 25).
The MP said: Tragically four people have been killed and that is shocking to happen anywhere but especially in this very peaceful, quiet, very settled community here.
“The police have arrested someone, but it’s really important still that people give information, any information they’ve got to the police so that whoever committed this horrific crime can be brought to justice.”
