A teenager has been arrested on suspicion of murder after the fatal stabbing of a father-of-one in south London.
Michael Patrick Afonso Peixoto, 27, was attacked on Mayfield Crescent, Thornton Heath by a gang who drove off in his £13,000 SUV.
The grey Vauxhall Grand X Elite - registration DL19LVS - that Mr Peixoto had been travelling has been recovered since the killing at about 10.30pm on December 19.
A 19-year-old man detained on suspicion of murder on Thursday remains in police custody.
A 22-year-old male held on Sunday has been bailed pending further enquiries.
Detective Inspector Martin Thorpe, from the Metropolitan Police’s Specialist Crime Command, said: “While these arrests mark significant developments in this investigation there is still a great deal of work ongoing.
“I would like to thank those people who have come forward with information that assisted us in locating the car Michael had been travelling in when he was attacked.
“However, I reiterate my appeal for anyone who was in the area and saw the events unfold, and has yet to speak to police, to come forward.
“Your information could prove to be vital in identifying those responsible for this brutal murder.”
Officers attended with paramedics and London’s Air Ambulance who treated Mr Peixoto at the scene.
But despite the efforts of emergency services to save him, he sadly died.
Mr Peixoto’s death is the 11th murder in Croydon in 2023 - the highest number of any borough and a tenth of capital’s total homicides.
A post-mortem examination confirmed cause of death as a stab wound.
Formal identification has taken place and Mr Peixoto’s family continue to be supported by specially trained officers.
His older cousin Ricardo Ferreira said the victim was married and had a young son.
He has started a GoFundMe campaign to cover the £10,000 needed to transport his body back to his native Portugal.
Mr Ferreira said: “Michael was sadly taken from us due to knife crime on December 19.
“[He was] devastatingly pronounced dead at the scene, leaving behind his wife, young son and the rest of his family.
“As you can imagine his mum is absolutely heartbroken and with Christmas just around the corner it makes it 10 times harder.”
