‘No mother deserves to bury her youngest child’: Family tribute to son shot two years ago 

A family have paid tribute to their son and brother who was shot and killed two years ago.

Matthias Poleon was just 27 when he was attacked without warning by two suspects wearing facemasks on the front drive of his Balham home in June 2021.

They then fled in a car in the direction of Balham town centre.

Today Crimestoppers has announced an offer of up to £20,000 for information the charity exclusively receives that leads to the arrest  and conviction of anyone linked to Mr Poleon’s murder.

Mr Poleon’s family have released tributes to their lost brother and son, ahead of the second anniversary of his murder.

Mr Poleon’s mother, Vina Poleon, said: “I need justice for my boy. 

“The killers need to be brought to justice, they need to understand that their decision to kill my boy has left me with the biggest hole in my heart. 

“I can’t close my eyes without seeing my boy laying lifeless. I’m broken over this, devastated beyond words.

“I miss him every day.”

Police were called at approximately 11pm on June 17, 2021 to reports of a man suffering from gunshot injuries in Bedford Hill, Balham.

Officers and London Ambulance Service attended and Mr Poleon was taken to hospital for treatment, despite the best efforts of the emergency services he was pronounced dead at around 11.30pm.

A post-mortem examination carried out two days after his death gave the cause of Mr Poleon’s death as a gunshot-wound to the chest.

No one has been charged in connection with  Mr Poleon’s murder.

A grey coloured Volkswagen Golf seen in and around the area at the time was traced and two men were arrested in January and March 2022 on suspicion of conspiracy to murder. However, they have since been released under investigation.

Mr Poleon’s brother Anthony, said: “At 10.30pm on June 17 2021 my life changed forever. 

“When I got the phone call that my brother had been shot, everything stood still.

“Being the eldest of five, I’ve always played the role of protector for my siblings, however in that moment I felt helpless. 

“When the doctor told us he had gone, I remember feeling sadness, rage, and disbelief. I didn’t want to believe it. I didn’t want to believe that he had been taken from us by cowards.

“I just want justice for my brother. 

“This devastation has broken my family, and I just want those responsible brought to justice so my family can have some peace. 

“Especially my mother who has shown her strength in this time of turmoil because no mother deserves to bury her youngest child.”

Alexa Loukas, London regional manager at the charity, Crimestoppers, said: “It’s believed there were a number of people around at the time of Matthias’ killing as Bedford Hill in Balham is a busy area.

“Our charity knows, only too well, that fear can be a massive barrier to people coming forward.

“However, with Crimestoppers, we’re not the police, we’re independent and we guarantee you’ll stay completely anonymous. That means we never ask for your personal details – just tell us what you know.

“Please contact us online by completing a simple a secure anonymous online form at Crimestoppers-uk.org or call our UK Contact Centre on 0800 555 111.”

Pictured top: Matthias Poleon (Picture: Met)