Just after midnight on Saturday July 15 Danny, his girlfriend and two friends had just left Oliver's Jazz Club in Greenwich, south London.
CCTV of 2 suspects minutes before they launch a violent attack that resulted in a man’s death. Can you help? Call 0208 721 4005/tweet @MetCC pic.twitter.com/DNlORv2txq
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) 27 July 2017
Danny, 31, from Bromley in Kent, was wearing a Rolex Datejust watch, worth almost £10,000 ($13,000) which caught the attention of the two robbers, who were prowling the area on a moped.
They demanded he handed it over and then shot at him. They then stabbed him to death, as his girlfriend begged them to stop, and took the watch.
Danny left behind a five-year-old daughter.
1week on & this still feels so surreal. Beyond sad. Ppl must know who killed Danny Pearce..If so, plse do the right thing for his daughter. pic.twitter.com/7ytlg2mbsl
— Mark Ede (@markjamesede) July 22, 2017
A relative has described how they were determined to help her cope with the tragedy.
"As a family we will get her through this. We have to. She has been wanting to listen and sing along to 'See You Again' by Charlie Puth as she says that Daddy used to sing it in the car," he wrote on a blog.
"She had her first nightmare about what happened last night and has asked questions about heaven. My heart is literally broken in pieces for her," he added.
Danny Pearce, 31, was attacked & killed for his Rolex watch in #Greenwich https://t.co/6IIgynm9yx CCTV footage shows suspects before attack pic.twitter.com/efpUsPNIen
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) July 27, 2017
Rolex watches are much sought-after by criminals. Last year two couriers in Japan narrowly avoided being robbed of an $8,000 Rolex watch by two Yakuza gangsters.
Scotland Yard launched an appeal in a bid to catch the robbers on Thursday (July 27) and released CCTV footage showing the two suspects at a Texaco petrol station a few minutes before the incident.
Detectives launch fresh CCTV footage led appeal after man murdered for Rolex watch… https://t.co/ifAw9hsETN pic.twitter.com/2TbbaVY9Gt
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) 27 July 2017
"The level of violence used against Danny was horrendous. Moments after he refused to surrender his personal property, the first suspect produced a large knife and began chasing and stabbing him whilst the second suspect produced a hand gun and shot in the direction of Danny as he ran for his life," said Detective Inspector Jo Sidaway.
"Danny sought help at a nearby address but was fatally attacked by the suspects who showed no mercy and only stopped their attack when the victim's girlfriend shouted out to them that she would give them the watch if they ceased their attack. Without a hint of remorse they then took the watch and fled the scene," she said.
The robbers are believed to have been responsible for two other muggings in Greenwich and Southwark a few days earlier in which Rolex watches were also taken.
"It is vital that those involved are identified and brought to justice before anyone else is seriously harmed as they clearly do not hesitate to use deadly violence," said Det. Insp. Sidaway.
Detectives are asking anyone with information to contact the incident room on 020 8721 4005.
