Five North London men have been sentenced 189 years behind bars after murdering two people and trying to kill a third. 

The murders took place in the Elthorne Estate in Archway in 2023. Rival gang member Lorik Lupqi, saw the gathering at around 8:30pm and took it as an his cue to attack.

He would proceed to text his then-girlfriend that “opps were outside” and contact fellow gang member Jason Furtado.

Other gang members were contacted for the ‘ride out’ and two hours later the killers would arrive on scene once the music video had ended.

Leonardo Reid, 15, and Klevi Shekaj, 23, were in the area along with other local teens.

Leonardo Reid would die at the scene while Klevi Shekaj died in hospital. a third man was left with serious injuries.

Phone records showed there were 50 short phone calls between this group in the two hours before the murders. After the attack, the killers went to Abel Chunda’s house and called organiser Furtado.

Chuna and Furtado were arrested on July 3 with Clarke legging it to the Suffolk coast and changing his appearance to try and evade arrest. But he was quickly found and arrested on July 12.

Lupqi would flee to Kosovo days after the murders and message his then-girlfriend to not to wait for him.

He was extradited back to the UK on November 12 last year.

Following gang member Xavier Poponne’s arrest in November 2023, police discovered drill lyrics written just days after the murders containing important lyrics of the attack.

The lyrics glorified the murders and referenced parts of the attack which could only be known to those involved.

His lyrics also mentioned how Leonardo and Klevi were not involved in any gang activity.

Shortly after the murders, he also changed his social media name to ‘X3’ a reference to the number of people he had stabbed.

They were all convicted of the two murders and attempting to murder the third man, following a 15-week trial.

The group appeared at the Old Bailey on Friday (September 26).

All men were sentenced to life in prison, with Lupqi, 21, of St John’s Way, Archway, to serve a minimum of 39 years.

Furtado, 28, of Halton Road, Islington, must serve a minimum of 37 years, while Chunda, 21, of Caldy Walk, Islington, and Clark, of Huddelston Road, Tuffnell Park, were hit with a minimum of 38 years.

Poponne, 21, of Halton Road, Islington, was also sentenced for possession with intent to supply, possession of a bladed article and possession of a class B drug and was sentenced to life to serve a minimum of 37 years.

Detective Inspector Jim Barry of Specialist Crime North said:

“Today’s sentencing brings a lengthy and emotional investigation to conclusion. Leonardo and Klevi had no previous involvement with this group and their lives were taken after being mistaken for rival gang members.

“In court, Leonardo and Klevi’s mothers bravely shared the devasting impact that this group’s actions have had on their lives. I commend their strength at this unimaginably difficult time.

“This group of men each played a part in the murders of a young man and a boy. Whether they were carrying the knife used or cowardly tried to cover the rest of the group’s actions, every man here played a part and deserves to be in prison for a long time.”

He added: “This group of men will now spend a huge part of their lives behind bars for their senseless and violent actions. They murdered two people and seriously injured another over a nonsensical belief that they were gang members.

“Their actions that day will continue to have a devastating impact.”