Killer: Carlton Tanueh
(Picture: Met Police)A teenager has been jailed for murdering a schoolboy on the bus in apparent revenge attack.
Carlton Tanueh, 19, stabbed Tyler Hurley, 16, to death with a large zombie knife on the 173 bus in Chadwell Heath in revenge over a music video posted online.
Tanueh was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday to a minimum of 26 years for Tyler’s murder, and was previously sentenced to two years and six months, to run concurrently, being in possession of an offensive weapon.
The court heard how Tyler, a Year 11 pupil, had just left classes at The Warren School and was still in his school uniform when the horrific attack occurred in front of shocked bus passengers on March 14 this year.
In the weeks before the killing, Tyler and his friends had uploaded a drill music video to YouTube mocking a number of Tanueh’s friends.
Tanueh’s associates had already attempted a reprisal attack against Tyler and his friends two weeks before the murder.
On the day of the killing, Tanueh had armed himself and was travelling on board the bus before spotting Tyler waiting at a stop on Chadwell Heath High Road.
Tanueh reboarded the bus when his victim got on, and then chased him to the back of the bus and stabbed him.
He was caught within 20 minutes of the shocking broad daylight killing, because a member of the public followed him and told police where he was.
Met DCI Mark Rogers paid tribute to the bystander, saying: “This was incredibly brave and undoubtedly helped officers apprehend Tanueh just a few roads away from the scene.
“Bystanders also helped provide first aid to Tyler before the arrival of emergency services.”
He said Tanueh had been “intent” on violence that day over the perceived slight, posting on social media that he was out looking for someone.
Officers discovered the killer hiding behind a garden wall in nearby Burlington Gardens.
DCI Rogers said: “This sad case exemplifies how petty rivalries and online taunts can have tragic real-life consequences, not just for the victim, but also his family and friends.
“I hope that seeing the man responsible for Tyler’s death found guilty will be of some comfort to them as they continue to grieve him.”
Tyler’s family paid moving tribute to him as his killer was jailed. His mum said: “Since losing my son Tyler Hurley my whole life feels like it has stopped in time.
“I have not slept through the night since I lost Tyler. This Christmas will not be the same without him.
“Every morning I would wake up and think that it was just a bad nightmare but then the realisation that Tyler has gone comes to the forefront of my mind.”
His sister added: “Tyler never deserved to die. He was 16. Just 16. With the opportunity to learn from his mistakes and grow into the amazing young man he was becoming, cruelly stolen from him.
“Tyler, you were the heart and soul of our family. You were and will forever be my biggest champion, there just aren’t enough words to describe how proud of you, I really am.”
