A NEW arrest has been made by police investigating the murder of Fishponds man Takayo Nembhard.
A £20,000 reward is also being offered for information that brings his attackers to justice, a year after he was fatally stabbed while visiting London’s Notting Hill Carnival.
Metropolitan Police officers arrested a 23-year-old man on suspicion of murder in Shepherds Bush last Friday – the sixth person to be arrested in the investigation.
He has been bailed until mid-November.
Father-to-be Takayo (above) was stabbed under the Westway flyover in Ladbroke Grove, in an area that was crowded with “several hundred people”, as he visited the carnival with his sister and friends on the evening of August 29 last year.
A single stab wound severed an artery in his groin, and he died in hospital despite the efforts of police officers and paramedics who tried to save him at the scene of the attack.
The 21-year-old former Bristol Rovers academy footballer, who was building a career as a rapper performing and recording as TKorStretch, was expecting a child with his girlfriend Oshian Edwards.
Their son was born in November.
Takayo had attended St Matthias and Dr Bell’s Primary School – now known as Fishponds C of E Academy – as a child, later going to Sir Bernard Lovell Academy in Oldland Common, where he had been a house captain.
His family said: “Almost a year on, our family are in disbelief and continued sadness that Takayo’s passing goes unpunished.
“We will never get over him but justice being served will help us to move on.”
The £20,000 reward is being offered by independent charity Crimestoppers for information they receive that leads to a conviction.
Crimestoppers takes information and passes it to detectives while guaranteeing whoever calls them stays totally anonymous.
Police hope the renewed appeal and “significant” reward will encourage witnesses or anyone else with information to come forward.
Officers will be at Notting Hill Carnival over the bank holiday weekend talking to visitors and making fresh appeals.
Detective Inspector Laura Semple said: “It has been a year since Takayo died and his family remain devastated at his loss.
“He had done nothing to provoke the attack that day.
“His son is growing up having never known his dad.
“We still really need the help of anyone who has information to bring those responsible to justice. I hope the offer of this substantial reward from the charity Crimestoppers with the appeal to contact them anonymously will encourage people to do the right thing.”
Crimestoppers spokesperson Alexa Loukas said: “There were many witnesses to the killing who could have vital information, but for whatever reason, have not yet come forward. Our charity, which is independent of the police, gives you the opportunity to pass on information about crime whilst staying completely anonymous.
“I know how hard it is to speak up, but you could make a difference. Every piece of information, no matter how small, is a step closer towards finding justice for Takayo.”
A police spokesperson added: “If information is circulating locally in Bristol we would urge people to contact us or Crimestoppers anonymously, and consider Takayo’s family and his son, growing up without his father.”
As well as the man who was arrested on August 18, police have also arrested a 23-year-old man and an 18-year-old man on suspicion of murder in Bristol on October 19 last year.
A woman aged 20 was arrested the same day in Islington, London, on suspicion of assisting an offender.
Three days later a 17-year-old boy was arrested in Bristol on suspicion of murder.
An 18-year-old man handed himself in to police and was arrested on suspicion of murder on December 6, after a CCTV image was circulated.
All have since been released under investigation by the police.
To contact Crimestoppers anonymously call freephone 0800 555 111 or visit www.crimestoppers-uk.org.
The charity does not ask for your personal information or track your device.
To qualify for the reward, people with information need to Crimestoppers directly before November 23, with information they exclusively receive and pass on that leads to conviction.
Information can also be given to the police incident room on 020 7175 2206 or online via Public Portal (mipp.police.uk).