Tyler McDermott left a music recording studio in April 2023 when he was shot and then stabbed by a group of men

Four men have been jailed for a total of 79 years’ imprisonment for the fatal shooting and stabbing of 17-year-old Tyler McDermott in Tottenham last year.

Tyrese Barnett, aged 20 of Moyers Road in Leytonstone, and Leo Reid, aged 20 of Tulse Hill in Brixton, were both found guilty of Tyler’s murder following a three month trial at the Old Bailey that concluded in June. Barnett was also found guilty of attempted murder in relation to Tyler’s friend and possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life.

The jury concluded that Rhys Antwi, aged 20 and of Prentis Road in Lambeth, and Kalam Bagge, aged 19 and of Nimrod Road in Lambeth, had both assisted and/or encouraged Barnett and Reid to carry out the fatal attack and they were both convicted of murder alongside Barnett and Reid.

At the Old Bailey today (14th) Barnett was sentenced to life imprisonment, to serve a minimum of 30 years; Reid was sentenced to life imprisonment, to serve a minimum of 22 years; Antwi was sentenced to life imprisonment, to serve a minimum of 14 years, and Bagge was sentenced to life imprisonment, to serve a minimum of 13 years.

Tyler McDermott and his friend left a music recording studio when he was shot and then stabbed by a group of men in April 2023. At court, the prosecution case was that tensions began to arise after one of the defendants involved in the case became upset at being filmed inside the studio. This resulted in a confrontation outside the studio and led to Tyler’s murder.

Detective Inspector Devan Taylor said: “My thoughts remain with Tyler’s family who have remained dignified throughout this lengthy process. I commend them for the way they have carried themselves during these extremely difficult few months. I know they are absolutely devastated to have lost him in such tragic circumstances.

“Nothing will bring Tyler back but I hope the sentences handed down to these individuals will help provide his friends and family with some form of closure. No family should ever have to suffer the loss of a loved one.

“An innocent young life was lost in such a cold and senseless way. These young men had a choice that night and – for reasons only known to them – they chose to resort to violence.”

Detectives worked “around the clock” following the incident outside a music studio in Norman Road, Tottenham, to identify the suspects involved in the attack. This complex investigation included pain-staking analysis of hundreds of hours of CCTV footage to bring those involved to justice.

It was discovered that Tyrese Barnett shot Tyler and Leo Reid struck him with a large machete when he was already laying on the floor with gunshot injuries. At the trial, the jury also heard that Barnett had discharged the firearm a second time while aiming the gun at Tyler’s friend. Fortunately, he missed and Tyler’s friend was not harmed.

The examination of CCTV footage from inside and outside of the recording studio on the night of the attack also showed what other people present at the scene were doing. Antwi was seen on CCTV arming himself with a sword underneath his clothes inside the studio just before the shooting and the same sword was recovered from his address in Streatham. Bagge, who was in possession of a knife, was also captured on CCTV footage inside the studio just before the murder which revealed that he knew that Barnett had taken possession of the firearm and therefore knew violence was likely.

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