‘Best friends’ were killed in targeted attack at birthday party, police say

Police investigating the killings of two 17-year-old boys at a birthday party say the attackers arrived “uninvited” and had their faces covered.

Investigators believe it was a “targeted attack”.

The two victims, named as Dom Ansah and Ben Gillham-Rice, were stabbed to death as they attended the house party in Milton Keynes.

Detective Chief Superintendent Ian Hunter of Thames Valley Police said: “We know that the party was a private birthday party, and although we believe that all of those involved were known to each other, we believe that those responsible arrived at the party uninvited, wore face coverings and they were armed with knives in what appears to be a targeted attack.”

He urged those responsible to hand themselves in and said police were “working around the clock” to investigate the killings.

Two cousins of the boys laid flowers outside the house where they were killed and said: “Many, many people’s hearts are broken.”

One of the cousins, who did not want to be named, said: “He’s come here with his long-time best friend since childhood, comes to a party and both of their lives just got ripped away from them.

“He was just so respectful to, like, his family and friends.”

Another tribute on Facebook read: “Heart broken!! too loose theses boys I’ve grown up with my family, my little cousin! Words don’t describe. Gone far far to soon (sic)!”

One of the boys died at the scene and the other was taken to hospital but died in the early hours of Sunday.

A double murder investigation is under way but no arrests have been made.

On Sunday, two forensic officers were seen inspecting an object on the driveway of a house in Archford Croft and there appeared to be blood smeared on the front door.

A neighbour said she heard a “commotion” and screaming shortly before midnight on the night of the stabbings.

“The police were here pretty quick,” she said.

Another neighbour told BBC News she believed the gathering was a party for a teenage girl living in the house.

Others said they had seen a birthday banner hanging on the door.

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Mr Hunter said about 15 to 20 people were at the party and that “the people directly involved in this incident are all likely to have known each other”.

Post-mortems will be carried out on Tuesday and the families are being supported by family liaison officers.

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(c) Sky News 2019: ‘Best friends’ were killed in targeted attack at birthday party, police say