A 26-year-old man died from a stab wound to the neck during a violent machete fight outside a nightclub in Peckham, south London, leaving two others in critical condition.

Details of the Deadly Attack

Aurelio Mejía succumbed to his injuries at the scene on Ruby Street outside Laxa Lounge at 3:54 a.m. on Monday. Emergency services responded to reports of a brawl, where paramedics pronounced him dead despite efforts to save him. Specialist officers support his next of kin.

Two men in their 20s sustained serious injuries and fight for their lives in hospital.

Arrests and Witness Descriptions

Authorities arrested four suspects later that day—one aged 18 and three aged 24—on suspicion of murder. They remain in custody.

Witnesses describe two groups of men clashing after leaving the club. One account reveals Mejía returned to assist a friend amid the chaos. He staggered 40 yards before collapsing in a pool of blood from a neck wound. Another victim suffered a leg injury. Observers note the men spoke Portuguese or Spanish and attended the same event, with cars parked nearby.

One eyewitness states: “There were machetes and extreme violence. Two groups of men, who had been in the club, were fighting. It seemed the man who died had gone back to help his friend. He had a neck wound. Another had a bleeding leg. The club is generally peaceful; we hadn’t had any problems until now.”

Local Reactions and Police Efforts

A nearby mother of two recalls hearing shouts, initially dismissing them as drunken noise from the late-night venue. She later saw police lights and described the scene as “carnage.”

A student from a neighboring block calls it “terrifying,” noting even his mother heard about it and the disruption of crossing police lines to reach university.

Forensics teams scour the area for weapons, while detectives review CCTV and doorbell footage. The club stays closed under police cordons.

Lead Investigator’s Statement

Detective Chief Inspector Neil John, leading the investigation, says: “This is a deeply tragic incident, and our thoughts are with the victim’s family during this difficult time. We have already arrested four men and our investigation continues at pace. We are aware of the concern that this will cause the local community, and those in the area will notice an increased police presence throughout the day. This assault occurred outside a busy nightclub, and we’d encourage anyone who has any information, dashcam or mobile phone footage which could support the investigation to contact us.”

Officials urge anyone with details or footage to call 101.