Posted 19th Oct 2007
Jonathan Matondo
Residents have blamed postcode gang warfare for the shooting death of a teenager who hoped to one day become a priest.
Sixteen-year-old Jonathan Matondo's body was discovered in a park in Sheffield on Wednesday.
Sheffield police commander Chief Superintendent Jon House said it was too early to say whether the incident in the park was linked to reports of shooting in a nearby street about two hours earlier.
But worried residents living around the recreation area said they were convinced the two incidents were connected and said they were becoming increasingly concerned about gang problems in the area.
Resident Robert Smith, writing on the website of the Burngreave Messenger, said one group of youngsters barricaded themselves in a house in nearby Melrose Road as a rival gang opened fire.
"Today in Burngreave, Sheffield we have reached another new level in an inner city internal warfare that is seeing young people firing guns as though playing a video amusement game with life," he wrote.
One man, who lives in Rock Street, said he believed Jonathan was followed into the park by people involved in the previous shooting incident. Another man who lives very close to the park and knew Jonathan said the shooting was related to gang rivalry between different postcode areas of the city.
He said: "It is about gangs. It's that simple. It's S3 versus S5 versus S4. This was all about one lad from one area winding up those from another area.
"I've also heard that it was an argument over as little as £50."
He went on: "He was good lad. It's terrible this should have happened to him. Someone's got to do something about it."
Resident Douglas Johnson said everybody in the area thought the death was related to drug dealing.
He said the Burngreave area had a problem with drugs and children were getting involved.
Advice worker Mr Johnson said: "This is what happens when drug dealing activity goes on. Kids get involved and start playing with guns.
"It's a very sad case," he said. "It's very shocking."
At a press conference Jonathan's vicar said the 16-year-old was a regular churchgoer and had talked about becoming a priest.
"He was a good person," said the Rev Jack Kinsiona, from the Light of Christ Church, in Burngreave, who was in tears as he remembered the youngster.
The vicar added: "I want you to know that Jonathan was not bad. He's not a bad person. He was a very, very, very great person."
Police have said Jonathan was found at about 7.30pm on Wednesday in the Nottingham Cliff recreation ground in the Burngreave area of the city.
A post-mortem examination has showed he died from a single gunshot wound to the head. He is believed to have been a talented local microphone MC using the name Venomous.
The uncle of the churchgoing teenager, Armand Vibila, said his nephew was "too young to die" as he pleaded for help to find the killer.
Mr House tried to reassure local people that despite this tragedy Sheffield remains one of the safest cities in the UK.
He said this was only the third fatal shooting in the city in the last 18 months.
Mr House said numerous members of the public had come forward with information and he was hoping arrests could be made "shortly".
He also said any witnesses who came forward could be given protection.
Mr House was asked repeatedly whether Sheffield was suffering from a gang problem, but would only say: "What we're focusing on is a 16-year-old boy who's been taken from his family."
The incident happened less than a mile from the scene of a shooting in March which left a 53-year-old taxi driver dead.
Father-of-five Younis Khan, 53, was shot as he drove along Scott Road, in the Pitsmoor area of Sheffield.
The neighbouring Burngreave, Pitsmoor and Spital Hill areas have witnessed a number of shooting incidents in recent years, although police and council leaders always insist Sheffield does not have a gun problem on anything like the scale of cities such as Manchester, Nottingham and London.
Just along the street South Yorkshire Police set up a mobile police station as armed patrols and mounted officers continued to form a high visibility presence in the area.
Tributes to the 16-year-old appeared on the memorial website Gonetoosoon.co.uk.
Alayah, who described herself as a "cuzen" from Sheffield, said Jonathan was always looking out for her.
The message read: "Its Eatin Away At Mee Cah I No Im Neva Guna See Mii Big Cuzen Agen..
"All Those Times Yuv Tld Me Yuv Gt Mii Bak Nd If Ne1 Bothers Mee Dat Yur Here Nd Yu Will Sort Em..
"OMDZZ Finkin Ov All Tha Memories Nd Stuff Nd Theres Soo Mani Ov Em..!!..
"Dis Shunt Hav Happend Tu Yu.. Lovin Yuu, Missin Yuu, Hurtin Wifout Yuu Nd NEVA Forgettin Yuu..
"Love Yuu Big Cuzen 4eva Nd Alwaiiz..!.. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Sleep Tyt General Venomous Our Angel Blessin Us Frm Above.."
Another message, entitled "Rip Babe x", appeared to be from a friend named Fallon, and addressed itself to "Ven".
It read: "Such a shame ur life was taken You was such a nice, gawguss, funny young lad.
"You always med me smile.. Even wen u dropped me in the water gutter things at peace gardens & made my £30 disintegrate with the water.
"I remember the good times! Anyway.. never forget you babe. You was a special person."
