A talented graphic designer and soccer fanatic raised in New York has been named among a group of graffiti artists who were hit and killed by a train while painting on tracks at a notorious and ‘dangerous’ vandalism hotspot in south London.
Alberto Fresneda Carrasco, 19, who moved to England 2011, last spoke to his parents at 10pm on Sunday to say he would be coming home for dinner at their home in Hampstead, north London, but never arrived.
They said he had always ‘loved to draw’ and was due to study graphic design at the London College of Communications from September, adding: ‘His absence has left a deep hole in the family.’
Carrasco’s relatives read about the Loughborough Junction train station incident on the news yesterday morning but did not think he would have been in the south of the city. In the afternoon police informed them of ‘Alby’s’ death.
‘Our concern grew after many hours without hearing from him,’ the family said. ‘From early in the morning we learned of the accident in which ”three men” had died in Brixton, but at first we did not establish the connection.’
They said their son, a keen Everton and Sevilla fan, had dual Spanish and American nationality but ‘felt at home in London’.
The family said he had a ‘special eye for business’ and would often buy clothes from charity shops and resell them on the Internet. He is survived by his parents Isabel and Carlos and his brothers Miguel, 21, and Julio, 14.
The other two dead were named by their heartbroken parents today. They are privately-educated fine art student Harrison Scott-Hood, 23, known as Lover, and Jack Gilbert, a 23-year-old nicknamed K-Bag. The group were collectively known as ‘The Three Musketeers’.
Alberto Fresneda Carrasco, 19, who was born in New York but moved to London in 2011, was among three graffiti artists killed by a train while painting tracks in the south of the British capital. He is pictured in undated photos from social media
Carrasco’s family said he had always ‘loved to draw’ and was due to study graphic design at the London College of Communications from September, adding: ‘His absence has left a deep hole in the family.’ He is pictured in a tribute
The Carrasco family said in a statement released via British Transport Police: ‘With great pain we have received the news of the death of our son, Alberto, in the incident in which two other young people also lost their lives in the vicinity of Brixton station.
‘The British Transport Police informed us on Monday afternoon. We believe the three were hit by a train when they were painting graffiti late at night in a particularly dangerous place.
‘Alberto had left home at five o’clock on Sunday afternoon. His last message was at ten o’clock that evening announcing his intention to return home for dinner.
‘Our concern grew after many hours without hearing from him. From early in the morning we learned of the accident in which ‘three men’ had died in Brixton, but at first we did not establish the connection.
‘From a very young age, his passion was to draw. He was ready to study graphic design at the London College of Communication (LCC) from September.’
Three black hearts and RIP have been sprayed on shutters outside Loughborough Junction today and wellwishers also left flowers and three bottles of spray paint with the nozzles removed – in pink, yellow and orange.
One fan of their work wrote on Facebook: ‘Sad news today, The Three Musketeers! RIP’ and others posted photographs of them spraypainting all over London, including on its railway network and trains.
Another wrote in tribute: ‘When I see new tags and graf track side I’m pleasingly reminded that we don’t all live in a boring servile society. Among the adverts spoonfed to us are small reminders that there are thrills to be had. RIP K-Bag, Lover and Trip’.
Mr Scott-Hood’s parents Susie and Perry said today: ‘We are completely heartbroken by the loss of our only son, Harrison. He was the love of our life, a kind and beautiful young man and we were beyond broken by this news’.
They said: ‘Harrison was loved by everyone, he was an intelligent and wonderful boy who had so many close friends. Over the past 24 hours we’ve received so many lovely messages of support from his friends and we are both grateful for all of their support and kindness. Hearing about their love and friendship for Harrison is helping us during this awful time.
‘Many people will know Harrison loved to travel, he was a beautiful artist and spent time recently travelling around Vietnam and Cambodia. Harrison completed us. He is irreplaceable and we will hold the memories of him dearly’.
The tragedy took place on an elevated stretch of track with no ‘refuge’ to escape trains on the busy electrified line in South London.
Privately-educated fine art student Harrison Scott-Hood (pictured left with mother Susie), 23, who was known as ‘Lover’ in the graffiti community, died along with Jack Gilbert, 23, (right) also died alongside Carrasco
The final victim was 23-year-old Jack Gilbert, nicknamed K-Bag, whose work is on walls and trains (pictured) all over London
Harrison Scott-Hood, 23, (left) who was known as ‘Lover’ (right spray painting) in the graffiti community, travelled to Loughborough Junction, south London from Muswell Hill
Fresh graffiti and spray cans have appeared overnight at the station near to where where three graffiti artists died after being hit by a train.
Three bright bouquets of flowers have also been left under the sign with one of the cellophane wrappings sprayed with the name Trip in pink. No cards have been attached.
It is believed they were working in the dark and were run down by an out of service passenger train.
Harrison Scott-Hood, 23, was named as one of three victims
Police were alerted to the bodies by a train driver shortly after 7.30am yesterday. They launched a recovery operation on the section of the overground line which runs broadly west to east between Denmark Hill and Clapham High Street. Their bodies were walked down the track by police and carried out via Brixton station.
The capital is experiencing a resurgence in eye-catching street murals fuelled by Instagram and other social media.
Fellow artists say those involved will often take great risks for an ‘adrenaline buzz’ and to find difficult-to-reach locations that cannot be painted over.
Spray cans, including a specialist brand used for graffiti, latex gloves and fluorescent vests were recovered. Police forensic experts took photographs of fresh graffiti tags on a low wall dividing the railway line.
British Transport Police Superintendent Matt Allingham confirmed that ‘one line of inquiry’ was that the victims were graffiti artists.
He said: ‘The bodies were discovered by a train driver. We know that they were dead for a while before we turned up. It is a possibility that it was during the hours of darkness.
‘There isn’t a sort of safe refuge up there, so if somebody was on those tracks there wouldn’t be anywhere for them to go to avoid the train. If they’ve been caught in that section of track when a train came through, they really wouldn’t have had much options.’
Scrapyard worker Mark Bowers said: ‘A police officer told me they think the men were doing graffiti when they were on the tracks. You see a lot of it around here, but I’ve never seen anyone actively spraying. It all happens during the night.’
Three black hearts and RIP have been sprayed on shutters outside Loughborough Junction station in south London overnight with three coloured spray paint cans
Social media tributes reveal the three friends would often work together and would tag together on walls across the capital
One tribute used the image showing an evidence bag containing their spraycans and latex gloves with the caption ‘Graffiti isn’t a game’ – another made their own mural in their memory
One of the three bodies found on the track in South London was removed after being carried from Loughborough Junction to nearby Brixton Station
Loughborough Junction is a stone’s throw from Brixton, arguably the most popular destination for graffiti artists from across the capital. Veteran artist Justin Rollins, 34, said the trio may have been ‘caught by surprise’ by a commuter train.
‘I don’t see any other reason why there are three guys walking down that stretch of track. The Thameslink trains are really quiet. You don’t always hear them coming. It might catch you by surprise.’
He added: ‘There are different sorts of graffiti, but if you’re in London, you don’t care. It’s a buzz, it’s an adrenaline thing.’
There were 399 graffiti attacks in London in the first quarter of this year, the highest number for eight years, according to official police figures. Southeastern, one of the hardest-hit train companies, said mural-type graffiti had ‘more than doubled’ in recent months.
An employee at spray paint stockist VapesLondon in Brixton said it was possible the men bought their supplies there as ‘it’s the only graffiti shop in south London’. He added: ‘The graffiti scene is a very close network. I had boys come in earlier saying, ‘did you hear what happened?’ ‘
Loughborough Junction resident Maureen Scott, 77, said: ‘This place is a bit of a hotspot for dare graffiti. They do it in all these tricky-to-reach places. They spray all along the railway tracks in this area.’
A police spokesman said last night: ‘Their families have been informed and are now being supported by specially trained officers’.
British Transport Police were called to Loughborough Junction (pictured) near Brixton shortly after 7.30am on Monday and found three bodies
Police were carrying bag after bag of evidence from the scene containing clothes, shoes and other items found on the track near Loughborough Junction station
The high bridge and its arches near Loughborough Junction are popular with graffiti artists who leave their ‘tags’ on the brickwork
Superintendent Matt Allingham (pictured), of the British Transport Police, said the layout of the tracks meant there wouldn’t have been anywhere for them to go if a train came
The three people were declared dead at the scene by London Ambulance Service after they were found on one of Britain’s busiest rail junctions
Loughborough Junction is between Herne Hill and Elephant and Castle on the Thameslink route – but the line between Victoria and north Kent via Brixton, Blackheath and Dartford runs above it
Police pictured on Monday walking the tracks and carrying out fingertip searches looking for evidence
Police search for clues on the track and are also poring over CCTV trying to find the moment the three men were knocked down and killed
Police were seen photographing the wall near where the bodies were found suggesting they could be graffiti artists
The three bodies were found above high arches where trains pass through 24 hours a day
The force described the deaths as ‘unexplained’, as police are trying to determine how the victims ended up on the tracks
According to timetables, the first train passed through the station at 5.30am.
The station is served by Thameslink, and platforms and tracks are above ground level.
Loughborough Junction is between Herne Hill and Elephant and Castle – but the line between Victoria and north Kent via Brixton, Blackheath and Dartford runs above it.
According to timetables, the first train passes through the station at 5.30am – but is believed they were struck at about 1am
Train services in this area are being delayed while the investigation is being carried out on the affected line
‘They are common scum’: Former TfL board member sparks outrage after calling ‘graffiti artists’ killed by a south London train ‘criminals who cost the railway millions’
A former Transport for London board member branded three suspected graffiti artists killed when a train struck them ‘common scum’, it was revealed today.
Brian Cooke, who was suspended by the Tories this year for calling a rival a ‘two-faced s***’, tweeted the extraordinary abuse hours after the tragedy at Loughborough Junction yesterday.
The three men – one 19-year-old and two 23-year-olds, all from London – were hit by an out of service passenger train at 1am.
Their bodies were found at 7.30am yesterday at a notorious vandalism hotspot and spraypaint cans were scattered on the track.
In response to a BBC report on the incident Mr Cooke, from Beckenham, south London, said: ‘Why do BBC News keep referring to the guys killed at Loughborough Junction as graffiti ‘artists’ they are no such thing they are common scum and criminals who cost the railway millions and keep fares high’.
Brian Cooke (pictured while boss of London TravelWatch) tweeted the extraordinary abuse hours after the tragedy at Loughborough Junction yesterday
His tweet in the aftermath of the Loughborough Junction tragedy has sparked fury online
His message prompted fury online, with one critic responding: ‘What a horrible & disgraceful thing to say. They’re people’s sons, show some respect!’
Another wrote: ‘3 lives lost, undoubtedly a traumatised train driver… shame on you for such reckless and thoughtless comments and opinion on a tragedy spare a thought for their families before you type!
Mr Cooke has enjoyed a colourful political career and has lost a series of high profile posts because of his outspoken views.
In 2008 he was sacked as the head of London’s travel watchdog for ‘inappropriate political activity’.
He issued a statement declaring his support for Boris Johnson days before the mayoral election and called Ken Livingstone’s approach to transport policy ‘arrogant’ – breaching the terms of his contract.
In May this year he was suspended as Tory chairman for Beckenham after he reportedly called a former mayor a ‘two faced s***’ following a Twitter spat.
He also wrote that the Lib Dems ‘need exterminating’ and took issue with what he described as a ‘dishonest campaign’ by the rival party – leading to calls for him to resign.