Teenagers jailed for killing 17-year-old outside McDonald's

Two teenagers have been jailed for killing a 17-year-old boy after he was fatally stabbed outside a McDonald's restaurant in London, police said.

Yeray Sanchez Morales was stabbed and hit with a bottle in front of a crowd of teenagers as he sat outside the restaurant with a friend on Old Kent Road in south-east London just before 11pm on 27 August last year.

The teenager, who wanted to become a PE teacher, suffered nine wounds to the neck and chest, and died a week later in hospital.

His friend, who survived the attack, said they didn't know why they had been targeted.

The Metropolitan Police said detectives managed to secure the convictions after photographs - including images of bloodied hands and knives - were posted on the suspects' social media.

Officers used the images, as well as CCTV, to track down the suspects and piece together who had struck the blows that led to the teenager's death through their distinctive clothing.

The Met said voice notes also linked the suspects to the crime.

On Friday, four men and three boys were convicted of a range of offences in relation to the circumstances surrounding Yeray's death.

Christhofer Jesus Vasquez, 18, of Enfield, north London, was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to four years in jail.

He had pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article in January and was jailed for one year for that offence, to run concurrently with the first sentence.

Andres Tapia Londono, 18, of Haringey, north London, was convicted of manslaughter and handed a four-year jail sentence.

Isaac Ros Ramirez, 18, of Hackney, east London, and Juan Betancourt Hoyos, 21, of Haringey, were convicted of violent disorder and given a community order.

A 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was convicted of violent disorder and sentenced to 16 months in jail.

A second 16-year-old boy was convicted of violent disorder and given a 12-month youth rehabilitation order.

A third 16-year-old boy, who had pleaded guilty to violent disorder, intent to do grievous bodily harm and possession of a bladed article in relation to a second victim in February, was given a community order.

'His life was stolen'

Yeray's mother Elena Morales said in a statement issued by the Met Police that her son had loved to dance and sing and that "his life was stolen".

She added he was: "A sensitive, happy, polite and generous young man, always ready to help anyone who needed it.

"He had a special way of connecting with others and a kindness that shone through everything he did."

"As a mother, I have no words to describe the pain that crushes my soul."

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After Yeray's death, detectives reached out to the teenagers who had witnessed the attack and, through appeals, obtained mobile phone footage of the night.

They tracked the individuals on the footage and local CCTV, and found them on social media where "images of bloodied hands and knives" had been shared.

One of the 16-year-olds was found to have booked a taxi to take him away from the scene shortly after Yeray was attacked.

Detective Sergeant Debbie Barge, who led the investigation, said: "Detectives worked quickly to track down the suspects, proving their roles in and surrounding Yeray's death.

"Our thoughts remain with his family and hope these convictions can bring them some degree of peace."

(c) Sky News 2026: Teenagers jailed for killing 17-year-old outside McDonald's