Teen Soccer Player Stabbed to Death in English Park During Alleged Robbery
Two teenagers charged with murder of 15-year-old Luis Gabriel Guembes in Guildford
Guildford, England — What began as an ordinary Monday evening ended in tragedy when 15-year-old Luis Gabriel Guembes was fatally stabbed in a wooded area of Stoke Park, a popular recreational space in this historic Surrey town. The promising young soccer player, who had moved to England from Peru as a child seeking a better life, became the victim of what authorities believe was a robbery gone horrifically wrong.
The Attack
On the evening of Monday, January 19, 2026, emergency services rushed to Stoke Park following reports of a stabbing. Despite desperate efforts by police officers, paramedics, and members of the public who attempted to save his life, Guembes was pronounced dead at the scene. The park, typically a place where families gather and children play, became the backdrop for a crime that has shaken this tight-knit community.
The Arrests
Following a swift investigation by Surrey Police, two suspects were apprehended and charged. On Friday, January 23, authorities announced that a 15-year-old boy and a 16-year-old boy—whose identities are protected under UK law due to their ages—face charges of murder, conspiracy to rob, and possession of a bladed article.
The teenagers appeared before Guildford Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, January 24, where they did not enter pleas. Judge Catherine Hartley remanded both suspects in custody until their next court appearance scheduled for February 23.
A Life Cut Short
Guembes’s story was one of hope and determination. According to a family friend who organized a GoFundMe campaign to support his grieving family, the teen had moved to London from Lima, Peru, with his mother at a young age “in search of hope, opportunity, and a better future.”
Those who knew him describe a young man who embodied the promise his family sought when they left their homeland. “He was an amazing son and an incredible young soul,” the campaign organizer wrote. “He was kind, bright, driven, and full of promise.”
Guembes excelled both academically and athletically. A devoted student and passionate soccer player, he balanced his studies with his love for the sport, displaying the discipline and dedication that suggested a bright future ahead. Friends and family remember his infectious smile and generous spirit. “He had a smile that could light up a room and a heart that touched everyone he met,” the GoFundMe description reads. “He was deeply loved and will be forever missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.”
Community in Mourning
The murder has sent shockwaves through Guildford and the broader Surrey community. Stoke Park, a 152-acre Grade II listed park known for its historic landscape and recreational facilities, is now indelibly marked by violence. Local residents have left flowers and tributes at the site, while community leaders have called for calm and unity in the face of senseless bloodshed.
The case also highlights ongoing concerns about knife crime among youth in the United Kingdom. The fact that both the victim and alleged perpetrators are teenagers underscores a disturbing trend of violence involving increasingly younger individuals.
The Investigation Continues
While charges have been filed, the case remains active as prosecutors prepare for the February 23 hearing. The specific circumstances that led to the confrontation in Stoke Park have not been fully disclosed, though the conspiracy to rob charge suggests investigators believe the attack was premeditated rather than spontaneous.
For Guembes’s family, the legal proceedings offer little comfort against the devastating loss of a son who represented their hopes for a new beginning. The GoFundMe campaign, created to help with funeral expenses and family support, has drawn contributions from across the community touched by the young man’s story.
A Promise Unfulfilled
Luis Gabriel Guembes’s journey from Lima to London embodied the immigrant experience—families risking everything for the chance at safety, education, and prosperity. That his life ended violently in a park he likely considered a sanctuary serves as a stark reminder of how quickly circumstances can turn tragic.
As the case proceeds through the English court system, Guembes will be remembered not for the circumstances of his death, but for the person he was becoming: a dedicated student, an enthusiastic athlete, a loving son, and a friend whose warmth left lasting impressions on those around him.
The February 23 hearing will mark the next chapter in a case that has left a community searching for answers and a family grappling with unimaginable grief. For now, those who knew Luis Gabriel Guembes hold onto memories of his smile and the promise of what might have been.
If you have any information about this case, please contact Surrey Police. Tips can be submitted anonymously through Crimestoppers UK at 0800 555 111.