Police officers and a member of the public were left injured after a vigil for murdered Lavaun Witter turned violent on Saturday.
In a statement to press today, the Borough Commander, Chief Superintendent Colin Wingrove, told the News that officers had attended the ‘Ninth Night Vigil’ at Manaton Close after receiving reports of a ‘disturbance’, having previously been informed of the planned event and keeping a casual watch in the area.
During their visit, officers and a member of the public were injured, with one person arrested for GBH. One of the injured officers is still in hospital receiving treatment.
At 11.15pm that night a Section 35 dispersal was authorised until 7am on Sunday covering the area between Brayards Road; Rye Lane; Peckham Rye; Nunhead Lane and Gordon Road. Police were only able to stand down at 3am.
Chief Superintendent Wingrove said Lavaun’s family had spoken with police following the incident and were “fully engaged and aware of police action”.
The arrested individual was also hospitalised for a head injury and has been discharged into police custody. An investigation is now under way.
Twenty-two-year-old Lavaun Witter, from Peckham, was fatally stabbed outside a block of flats in Croydon on February 5 during a weekend of bloodshed across the capital.
In a moving tribute, Lavaun’s family said the aspiring computer engineer known as ‘Lavz’ was “destined for greatness” and “wanted to fly high”.