Two charged over housing estate murder

Two people will appear in court today charged over the murder of a teenager shot dead in the stairwell of a housing estate.

Sylvester Akapalara, 17, was killed on the fourth floor of Heron House on the Pelican Estate in Peckham, south London, last Wednesday. He had been shot in the head and chest.

Scotland Yard said that Sodiq Adeojo, 18, of Shurlands Gardens, Peckham, and a 17-year-old male youth have been charged over the murder.

Both will appear before Camberwell Green Magistrates' Court today.

Sylvester, a promising athlete, was found bleeding to death on the stairwell of the tower block shortly after 4.30pm on Wednesday.

Paramedics were called, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

In online tributes, the dead teenager - a member of the Herne Hills Harriers athletics club - was remembered as a "star in the making" by friends.