Charges laid after fatal stabbing in London, Ont. highschool student

A London father says he is “confused and lost” after his son died after stabbing him just steps from his home.

Abdul Hassim told CTV News his son, Zukifili “Zeko” Abdul Hashim, 18, was stabbed three times Friday night at their compound at 1067 Southdale Rd. East in London, Ont.

London police have not confirmed how the teenager died, but told CTV News they responded to a disturbance in the area of ​​Southdale and Milbank Drive on Friday around 10 p.m.

“We found male with life-threatening injuries,” said Const. David Easter of the London Police Service (LPS). “He was taken to hospital by paramedic services and later succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at hospital.”

Two 17-year-old boys, both from London, who cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, were jointly charged with second-degree murder.

Both remain in custody with future court dates.

On Saturday morning, several sections of the complex were inaccessible due to police tape and more than 10 officers were on the scene.

Abdul Hashim speaks to CTV News London about the death of his son, Zukifili ‘Zeko’ Abdul Hashim. June 22, 2024. (Brent Lale/CTV News London)More than 40 evidence markers are strewn from the front of the complex off Southdale Road, where the stabbing took place, through a fenced-in basketball court and along pathways to the back of the complex.

LPS officers were using a drone to film the area from the air, forensic photographers were taking photos and 3-D scans of the area, while detectives were canvassing door-to-door, asking neighbors for surveillance video or information.

Hassim said Zeko was a student at Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School, which is just a few hundred meters away from his home.

He was at home when his son was stabbed.

“I went to the scene and saw him in the ambulance,” Hassim said. “They wouldn’t let me go with him. Twenty minutes later the police came to the door and said, my son is dead.Police in London are investigating the death of a man in the areas of Southdale Road East and Millbank Drive. June 22, 2024. (Brent Lale/CTV News London)

Hassim said he fell to the ground at least 10 times. “My oldest also collapsed,” Hassim said. “The little one started screaming when he saw me on the ground.”

Hassim, who immigrated to Canada, then brought his children and said his son “used to play games and used to hang out with a lot of friends.”

However, he revealed that this is not the first time that Zeko has been involved in dangerous actions.

“This is the second time this has happened,” Hassim said. “Last time some tried to kill him, but last time he narrowly escaped.”

Police will not say at this time if they have anyone in custody after the stabbing, but said there is no threat to public safety.

“The investigation is ongoing and has been taken over by members of the Major Crimes Unit,” Easter said. “It’s in the early stages so we have limited information at the moment but it will be shared as soon as possible.”

Detectives work to investigate the death of Zukifili “Zeko” Abdul Hashim in south London on June 22, 2024. (Brent Lale/CTV News London)