Smethwick: teenager who carried out brutal knife attack is convicted of murder

A 19-year-old who carried out a brutal knife attack on a wounded teenager after chasing him into a shop in Smethwick town centre, has today (8 March) been convicted of murder.

Derlano Samuels suffered multiple stab wounds, including one which left the tip of the knife embedded in his head.

The shocking violence started when the 17-year-old was attacked by Cam’Ron Dunn just before 4.10pm on 1 May last year in Cape Hill, when he was stabbed twice in the stre j

The injured teenager was then chased by Dunn into Waterloo Road, where he tried to take refuge in a shop, but was followed inside and cornered in a storeroom. There he was stabbed repeatedly by Dunn, before the young knifeman fled.

Nursing his injuries, Derlano also managed to leave the shop and got into a car parked outside which was driven away.

Minutes later officers found Derlano lying on the ground in Heath Street, Smethwick, by the vehicle after it was reported as having crashed there minutes later.

Officers administered first aid before paramedics arrived to take over and the teenager was rushed to hospital but he was sadly pronounced dead about an hour later.

A post-mortem showed that Derlano had died from a stab wound to his chest.

It also revealed that he’d suffered multiple stab wounds to his body, including one which left the knife tip lodged in his skull.

Officers dispatched to the shop were able to retrieve CCTV footage which had captured the horrifying attack.

One of them recognised Derlano’s attacker from those images. And at 1.20am the next morning (2 May 2021) police executed a warrant at Dunn’s home in Sketchley Close, Smethwick and arrested the teenager, who was aged 18 at the time, on suspicion of murder.

Police seized a freshly-washed blue tracksuit which was consistent with the clothing worn by Derlano’s attacker.

Officers also retrieved a stab proof vest from Dunn’s bedroom and a knife sheath hung over pipes in the downstairs toilet.

Two machetes were also recovered; one from in a BBQ in the back garden and the other under the settee in the living room. But following forensic analysis neither was the weapon used in the attack – that has yet to be traced.

But following a seven-day trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court, a jury took just 90 minutes to find Dunn guilty of murder.

What did police say about the case?

Detective Inspector Hannah Whitehouse, said: “The brutality of this attack is shocking. Derlano was stabbed in the street and then clearly tried to flee from his attacker. He was pursued by Dunn and subjected to a further vicious knife attack when he was cornered.

“What caused this horrifying violence to be unleashed isn’t clear but it has resulted in another family losing a loved one, and our thoughts remain with them.

“It is also another sad reminder of the dangers of carrying knives and we hope this conviction can provide Derlano’s family with some comfort that Dunn is now off the streets and behind bars.”

Family pay tribute

Derlano’s family spoke today of their loss: “Derlano was a happy, positive, thoughtful and kind-hearted person. His life was taken from him before his 18th birthday in a senseless act at the hands of another. He will be forever missed by his family and those who knew and loved him.

“The youth of today think carrying knives will protect them, but in fact you are putting your life in the hands of the law. Knife crime is a pandemic in the UK, the impact ripples through families and communities and cannot be underestimated.”

Dunn will be sentenced on 13 May.

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