Shamiah McKenzie and Codee Godfrey jailed over fatal ambush of Abdul Jalloh in gang turf war

The blood-soaked streets of East London bore witness to yet another chilling act of gangland violence as two teenage drug dealers were jailed for their roles in the ruthless ambush and killing of a rival. What unfolded on the Isle of Dogs last summer was a brutal reminder of the consequences of turf wars raging across the capital.

On the afternoon of August 5, 2024, 23-year-old Abdul Jalloh sat unarmed in his car on New Union Close. Moments later, he was dead — his neck savagely stabbed by a knife-wielding teenager. The killers: Shamiah McKenzie, 18, and Codee Godfrey, 19, drug dealers who had spent more than an hour prowling the neighbourhood on bicycles, hunting Jalloh down with surgical focus.

Prosecutors told the Old Bailey that this was a calculated attack in an escalating turf war over control of the local drug market. Once they spotted Jalloh, the ambush was immediate. The fatal blow was struck at close range — a single, deep stab to the neck that offered no chance of survival.

But the cold-blooded nature of the killing didn’t end there. In a desperate scramble to erase evidence, the teens dumped the murder weapon, its sheath, and McKenzie’s bike into the River Thames. They also disposed of bloodstained clothing and tried to burn incriminating evidence in bushes before slipping back onto the Thames Path — behaving as if nothing had happened while officers began their manhunt.

Their arrogance didn’t last long. The net quickly closed. Police recovered the hidden items along the riverside, uncovering a cache of damning evidence — including £3,000 worth of cannabis, £2,000 in cash, and other items tied to their drug-dealing operation.

McKenzie and Godfrey, realising the game was up, handed themselves in within days. At trial, the court heard chilling details of the premeditated attack and the attempt to cover their tracks. McKenzie was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 22 years. Godfrey was found guilty of manslaughter and handed a nine-year sentence.

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Waller, who led the investigation, said the young killers had shown “a shocking level of ruthlessness and disregard for life.” Speaking after the verdict, he added: “London will be a safer place with them off the streets.”

The local community agrees. Outside the crime scene, floral tributes still line the pavement where Abdul Jalloh’s life was so violently cut short. Friends and neighbours continue to grieve the young man whose life was ended not by accident or circumstance, but by the cold calculation of teenage gang members.

As East Londoners reel from yet another senseless death, many are demanding tougher action from authorities. With knife crime surging and youth gangs growing more organised and violent, questions now echo across the borough: how many more families must be destroyed before decisive action is taken?

The grim reality is that Jalloh’s murder is far from isolated. Across the capital, territorial feuds continue to erupt into bloodshed, often fuelled by drug profits and carried out by teens too young to grasp the lifelong consequences of their actions.

McKenzie and Godfrey’s jail terms may offer some relief to a grieving community — but for many, it is not enough. As the justice system does its part, Londoners are now looking to policymakers, schools, and local leaders to confront the roots of youth violence and dismantle the culture of fear that gangs have built on their doorsteps.