On the evening of April 7, 2026, one of London’s most iconic beauty spots turned into a scene of senseless violence. At around 6:41pm, Metropolitan Police officers responded to reports of a fight at the viewpoint on Primrose Hill, a popular north London park known for its sweeping panoramic views of the city skyline. They found 21-year-old Finbar Sullivan, a promising filmmaking student, suffering from multiple stab wounds. Despite desperate efforts by paramedics, he was pronounced dead at the scene. Another man was also stabbed but survived with non-life-threatening injuries.

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Police and emergency services at the scene on Primrose Hill following the fatal stabbing on April 7, 2026.

Finbar Sullivan, often known in creative circles as “Sully” or operating under the name “Sully Shot It,” was a student at the London Screen Academy. He came from an artistic family: his grandfather, Michael Seresin, is a renowned cinematographer who worked on major films including Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Finbar had a passion for film and photography, frequently producing music videos—particularly in the UK drill and rap scene. His father, Christopher Sullivan, a musician, later described him as a “beautiful, lovely, outgoing, loving boy” who was simply testing a new birthday camera in the park that evening. “He’d just bought a new camera… and he took it up there to do a bit of filming,” Christopher told reporters, insisting his son was not involved in gangs.

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Finbar Sullivan, 21, a talented filmmaking student and videographer known as “Sully Shot It,” remembered by family and friends as a kind and creative young man with a bright future.

The suspect in this heartbreaking case has now been identified as 27-year-old Oliuwadamilola Ogunyankinnu, of Southbury Road in Enfield, north London. On April 12, he was charged with the murder of Finbar Sullivan. He appeared at Stratford Magistrates’ Court the following day, where he confirmed his name but told the court, “I didn’t kill anybody, they’ve got the wrong person” and “Police got the wrong person.” He was remanded in custody and is due to appear at the Old Bailey on April 15. A second man, 18-year-old Khalid Abdulqadir of Camden, has also been charged in connection with the incident with offences including grievous bodily harm with intent, violent disorder, and possession of a knife.

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Oliuwadamilola Ogunyankinnu, 27, charged with the murder of Finbar Sullivan. Court artist sketches and available images show the suspect during his initial court appearance.

Behind the Public Persona: Local DJ, Dancer, and Former Security Guard

To those who encountered him in everyday settings, Oliuwadamilola Ogunyankinnu presented as a 27-year-old involved in local entertainment and security work. Reports describe him as a DJ and dancer, with some background in security guarding—roles that often place individuals in nightlife venues, events, and street-level environments across London. However, as the investigation unfolds, questions have emerged about whether there was more to his life than this surface-level profile.

The UK drill music scene, in which Finbar Sullivan worked as a videographer, has long been associated with gritty lyrics, street rivalries, and occasional real-world violence. While Sullivan’s family maintains he was not gang-affiliated and was simply pursuing his artistic passion, several previous attacks and deaths involving drill filmmakers and participants have raised concerns about the risks of operating in that world. Some commentators have noted the broader pattern of violence linked to certain factions within London’s rap subculture, where cameras, rivalries, and public spaces can intersect dangerously.

Primrose Hill itself—usually a peaceful spot for picnics, dog walkers, and tourists enjoying the view of landmarks like the Shard, the London Eye, and the City skyscrapers—felt worlds away from such tensions. Yet on a warm spring evening, a reported fight escalated with deadly consequences.

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The iconic panoramic view from Primrose Hill, a popular London park that offers stunning vistas of the city skyline—now forever linked to this tragic incident.

A Community in Shock and Unanswered Questions

Finbar’s death has devastated his family and friends. His father has spoken publicly of his grief, criticising aspects of policing and expressing that he now feels he has “nothing to live for.” Tributes describe Finbar as someone who loved movies, editing, and capturing life through his lens—someone who stayed home editing six nights a week and dreamed of following in his grandfather’s cinematic footsteps. A friend reportedly heard harrowing screams during a phone call just before the attack.

For residents of Camden and surrounding areas, the incident serves as a stark reminder that knife crime can strike even in seemingly safe, affluent, or scenic locations. Primrose Hill is not typically associated with serious violence, making the attack all the more shocking.

Ogunyankinnu’s defence in court—that police have the wrong man—means the full facts will be tested in a higher court. Investigations continue into the sequence of events, any potential motives, and the roles of those involved. Police have appealed for witnesses, including a young woman or teenager captured on footage wearing a pink vest and blue denim shorts, to come forward.

This case also reignites wider debates in the UK about youth violence, knife possession, the influence of certain music subcultures, and the challenges of preventing random or escalating confrontations in public spaces. While drill music is enjoyed by many as artistic expression, its frequent glorification of street life has drawn criticism for potentially normalising or inciting real harm.

A Life Cut Short

Finbar Sullivan was at the beginning of what many believed would be a creative career filled with promise. Instead, his life ended violently on a hill that symbolises London’s beauty and openness. As the legal process moves forward at the Old Bailey, his family mourns a son, grandson, and friend described as irreplaceable.

The tragedy on Primrose Hill leaves many unsettled: how a routine evening in a beloved park could end in fatal stabbing, what role—if any—subcultural ties played, and whether more can be done to curb the undercurrents of violence that occasionally surface even in unexpected places.