Six people have been arrested after a man was stabbed to death in Crystal Palace in the early hours of Sunday, as detectives said they were closing in on outstanding suspects.
Arrests
Two men – aged 21 and 23 – have been arrested on Monday and Tuesday respectively and remain in police custody. Four other individuals – a 17-year-old boy and three men aged 19, 30 and 45 – were arrested on Sunday and have been released on bail pending further enquiries.
A 30-year-old man who was discovered with stab wounds at the scene on Westow Hill has also been arrested on suspicion of murder. His injuries were not deemed life-threatening or life-changing, and he was taken to hospital for treatment.
Victim
The man killed has been named as Kamahl Cameron-Williams, 31. Police were called by the London Ambulance Service at approximately 3:39 am on Sunday, June 21, following reports of a stabbing. Officers found Mr Cameron-Williams with knife injuries, and paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene. His family are being supported by specialist officers.
A post-mortem examination is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, June 24.
Multiple crime scenes were initially established on Westow Hill and Woodland Road, but these have since been lifted.
Police investigation and appeal
Detective Chief Inspector Sarah Lee, leading the murder investigation, said: “Our thoughts remain with Kamahl’s family and friends as they come to terms with this tragic loss. There is no place for knife crime on our streets. Our detectives continue to work at pace and remain committed to apprehending those responsible for taking Kamahl away from his loved ones. We have already made significant arrests and are closing in on outstanding suspects.”
The Metropolitan Police is urging anyone with information – including CCTV, dashcam or doorbell footage – to come forward. Officers can be contacted on 101, quoting reference 1302/21JUN. Information can also be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Local residents have expressed mixed views on neighbourhood safety in Crystal Palace. Some newcomers said they were shocked by the violence, while others told officers they felt such incidents were “expected” in parts of South London. “Things like this happen in London all the time and it might sound bad but I wasn’t shocked,” one resident said. Businesses in the area, including the Cocktail Embassy, have voiced sadness and concern, saying they care deeply about the community.
The stabbing comes amid heightened concern over knife crime in the capital. In the year ending March 2025, the Metropolitan Police recorded the highest rate of knife offences per 100,000 population in England and Wales, at 182. Across England and Wales, approximately 53,000 offences involving a sharp instrument were recorded in the same period – a 1.2% decrease on the previous year and a 3.8% drop compared with 2019/20. Sharp instruments were used in 46% of homicides in England and Wales in 2023/24, with 262 such killings. Hospital admissions for assault by a sharp object in England fell to 3,500 in 2024/25, a drop of 10.4% from the year before. In London specifically, the Metropolitan Police recorded 14,577 knife crime offences in the 12 months to December 2023, a 20% increase on the previous year.
In an unconnected incident, a fatal stabbing occurred on Pawsons Road in Croydon at the end of May. Police continue to investigate that case separately.
Anyone with information about the Crystal Palace killing is urged to contact police via 101, quoting reference 1302/21JUN, or to call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
