A 16-year-old boy who was knifed to death in East Croydon station during rush hour spent the day as a "walking target" after escaping another attempt on his life that morning.

Louis Johnson told friends he was set up in an attempt on his life at 11am on the morning of his death when he was left with a ripped Gucci pouch after a scuffle with a stranger.

The 16-year-old was on his way to a Youth Offending Team (YOT) meeting in Battersea where staff offered him a £50 Tesco voucher if he arrived home by 6pm, according to pals.

He was supposed to take a taxi but decided to get the train home and was fatally stabbed at East Croydon station in a suspected targeted machete attack at around 4.45pm that same day.

His death was likely due to a postcode war, according to friends who said Louis was seen as an "opportunity" having lived in Tooting and Lewisham before moving to South Norwood.

Best friends Mia and Ashanti, who knew Louis since beginning secondary school aged 11, laid flowers at the scene today (Tuesday, January 28).

Victim 'knew he was going to lose his life'

The teenager was stabbed on the overbridge inside the station

They said Louis would have been excited to get home and give the Tesco voucher to his mum who was "his whole world" and who would have been in his final thoughts before he died.

They described him as a loving, caring person who lifted people up by pulling funny faces and liked making lots of money in whatever way possible.

Ashanti, 16, from Catford, said: "When he told us in the morning, I felt scared and wasn’t sure what to do. We wanted to know who did it but he said he didn’t know.

"We know he was scared for his life and he knew he was going to lose his life.

"He said someone had come and spoken to him at about 10 or 11am and that something didn’t feel right and they laid hands on him and his Gucci pouch was ripped.

"The YOT team gave him a £50 Tesco voucher for him to be home before 6pm and he was stabbed at 4.36pm.

"He would have been getting the train to Norwood Junction to give the Tesco voucher to his mum.

"He would have been happy to look after his mum. She was the only person he really cared for. He cared for his friends but his mum was his world.

"I saw a picture of him on social media after it happened and it broke my heart. You don’t expect to be lying in bed and find out your friend has died.

"It is difficult, it happened less than 24 hours ago. Other friends from school are sad but don’t have the strength to come here today."

Louis was 'set up'

Pictures show a heavy police presence in place at the station

Best friend Mia said Louis was clearly targeted by a man carrying a machete in a stupid postcode war.

The 16-year-old, from Lewisham, said: "The person had a machete, clearly knowing they were targeting Louis.

"The police think they are doing everything they can to stop knife crime but it is so easy to buy a machete online within five seconds and click and collect.

"Louis would never approach someone he was unsure of. If he knew something was going to happen, he would take himself out of the situation. He was set up.

"He was the tallest, skinniest person ever and they stabbed him with a machete. That would have gone straight through him.

"It was probably just postcode wars and it is that stupid. We are living in 2020 and still there are people who carry a knife, trying to prove they are a big bad person.

"Louis lived in Tooting and Lewisham before moving to South Norwood and people probably saw him as an opportunity but he was a living person and a loving person.

"He was on tag recently and the YOT team just wanted him to be safe. He has come so far.

"He used to be badly behaved kid and this year was his year to step up his game and prove everyone wrong. We are 28 days into January and now he is gone.

"He just wanted to make it in life. He liked making money in whatever ways he could.

"He just wanted to live a peaceful life. Everyone just wants to come off the streets and feel they can go home safely."

'The kindest, loveliest person'

Parts of East Croydon station remain taped off

The friends recalled Louis pulling funny faces to make people laugh and always being a shoulder to lean on.

Mia, who saw Louis just days before his death, said: "We went to school together and then we started speaking again in September after losing contact.

"I saw him just the other day when he went to get his hair cut and he was so happy to have it done.

"We would speak every day on SnapChat. He was always there for everyone, he could turn your frown upside down and make you laugh.

"He was happy looking after his mum and the kindest, loveliest person."

British Transport Police (BTP) said they are looking for two people and confirmed a knife was used in the attack.

Mark Lawrie, the BTP's South East Sector Commander, said: "We are pursuing strong lines of enquiry and have CCTV footage at the scene.

"There are two people that we are looking for.

"We can confirm the weapon which was used was a knife.

"There will be a big police presence in the area and it will continue over the coming days.

"We have a multi layered strategy based on the CCTV footage of the scene, the Major and Serious Organised Crime Unit and Family Liaison Officers."