Police investigating the murder of young father Nashon Esbrand in Canonbury believe the stabbing was “not random”.

Former Central Foundation Boys’ School student Nashon, 27, was knifed in Mitchison Road, off Essex Road, on Thursday evening and died in hospital early on Friday.

The attack happened yards from his mother’s home and near the Dover Court Estate, where Lee Jay Hatley was also fatally stabbed in June.

A post-mortem found Nashon died of stab wounds. Scotland Yard has launched a murder investigation but no one has been arrested.

Det Ch Insp Nicola Wall, who is leading the hunt for his killers, has urged witnesses or anyone with information to come forward.

She said: “At this early stage of our investigation, and whilst we are keeping an open mind regarding a motive, we believe this wasn’t a random attack on Nashon.

“Therefore, we are keen to hear from anyone who knew Nashon and could help us build a picture of his life, and hopefully why someone would want to attack him.”

Tributes have poured in for Nashon, who had celebrated the birth of his daughter the week before he was killed.

A friend, who asked not to be named, said: “He was the sweetest man ever.

“He had a heart of gold. He always spoke about how much he loved his mum. It’s heartbreaking. I just saw him 10 days ago. He was saying how excited he was about his baby and how much he loved her.

“He was just so loved by everyone.”

When his baby was born, he told his friends that his life had changed, she said, adding: “If anyone gave the best advice, it was Nash. He was one of them guys who would stick to a promise 100 per cent.”

Family friend Tia Brown said Nashon, who liked to be known as Vada, was one of the “most joyful people on the planet”.

“He could walk into a room and crack a joke, in an instant everyone would be laughing and smiling,” she said. “His heart was full of pure gold, I just don’t understand how something so horrid can happen to such a wonderful person.

He wasn’t just killed, he was murdered and this news and the loss of his brilliant soul, broke the whole family.

“He should not have been taken in this way especially when his life just took a turn for the best when his baby girl was born.”

Mark Maciver, who runs D and L’s Barber Shop in Hornsey Road, Holloway, also paid tribute to Nashon.

“Everyone who comes here knows him,” he told the Gazette. “He came in here once a week for the past two years.

“Sometimes when people pass away, they say: ‘Oh, he was a nice guy with a good heart.’ Even when deep down, they know it isn’t necessarily true. It’s just the thing you say.

“But Nashon actually was a genuinely nice guy. He was always happy. He always came in with a smile.

“He would come into the shop boasting about Man United, rubbing people’s faces in it when they won. He’d be like: ‘What you saying, boys!’

“We are all in shock. It’s hurtful. Everyone has had the same reaction today. They can’t believe it.”

Nashon, a former pupil at the Anna Scher theatre school, was “the last person you would have thought it would happen to,” according to childhood friend Aaron Mestan.

“He was such a warm-hearted guy,” he told the Gazette.

“I’d see him on the Cally and he was the kind of boy who would say: ‘How are you? How’s your family?’

“You know people in your life, but they will never ask that.”

Fighting back tears, he added; “All this is getting out of control. These kids are just stabbing each other.”

Any witnesses, or anyone with any information, can call police on 020 8785 8244. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org.