The murder of a man who was stabbed through the heart in a quiet Isleworth street was not a random attack and the public should not be alarmed, according to Hounslow's top cop.
27-year-old victim Robert Venenavuci died after being repeatedly knifed at a house in Wood Lane, on Saturday night.
Residents have spoken of their shock of their shock but Ch Supt David Bilson, Hounslow's borough commander, sought to reassure people.
"At this stage we believe the people involved in this incident were known to each other and it was not a random attack, so the public should not be concerned," he said.
Supt Simon Phipps, of Hounslow Police, backed his superior's assurances, adding: "We would like to reassure the public that the murder is not linked to anything outside the flat.
"It was, however, completely unexpected for something like this to happen in such a nice quiet residential area, where we don't normally experience any violent crime."
Neighbours in Wood Lane gave mixed responses to news of the murder.
One 65-year-old resident, who would not give his name, said: "I am shocked to hear that someone has been killed on this road. No one wants something like this happening in their neighbourhood."
But a 25-year-old of nearby Cambourne Road, who also refused to be identified, added: "It doesn't shock me. I have lived here all my life and the area seems to be really going downhill.
"When you look at the people who are moving into the area you can see it's not what it used to be. Generally in London, the crime rate has rocketed."
Jahangir Hussain, of College Road, Isleworth, was charged with Mr Venenavuci's murder on Monday and will appear at the Old Bailey on January 13.
Another man, aged 20, and a 25-year-old woman were arrested and bailed until mid-November. A second woman, aged 43, was also arrested but has been released without charge.
