Gambiaj.com – (Banjul, The Gambia) – A 22-year-old British man who fled to The Gambia after being involved in the brutal killing of a Croydon schoolboy has been convicted in the United Kingdom.

According to the UK police, Romario Gordon, from Milton Keynes, was part of a violent gang that stabbed 16-year-old Camron Smith to death in his mother’s bedroom in July 2021.

After the attack, Gordon managed to leave the UK through Heathrow Airport and fled to The Gambia, where he stayed unnoticed for more than two years.

The UK police says Gordon’s escape triggered an international manhunt, with an arrest warrant issued to law enforcement partners abroad. He eventually returned to the UK in August 2023, where he was arrested. On September 25, 2025, a jury at the Old Bailey found him guilty of manslaughter.

The incident, which shocked Britain, began when Gordon and four others stole a taxi in South London before embarking on a violent spree of house break-ins. The gang ultimately forced their way into Camron’s home in Croydon, where the teenager was chased and fatally stabbed.

Detectives later linked the group to the crime through DNA evidence found in the stolen cab. Four other members of the gang had already been convicted and sentenced to lengthy prison terms.

Detective Chief Inspector Samantha Townsend of the Metropolitan Police said Gordon’s conviction marked the end of a long path to justice: “Despite the complexity of the investigation and attempts to hinder our inquiries, we have succeeded in bringing him to justice.”

For The Gambia, Gordon’s brief presence in the country highlights ongoing concerns about international fugitives using West Africa as a temporary hideout.

While he was not known to have committed crimes on Gambian soil, his case serves as a reminder of the importance of close cooperation between Gambian and international law enforcement agencies.