Mourners gathered to remember a teenager stabbed to death on a London bus at a church vigil on Wednesday evening.
Kelyan Bokassa, 14, was travelling on a 472 bus to Abbey Wood when he was attacked at about 2.30pm on Tuesday as the bus was on Woolwich Church Road.
On Wednesday, about 35 mourners – including friends of the victim – gathered to pay tribute at St Mary Magdalene Church in Woolwich.
One of Kelyan’s friends described him as someone who would “always be there for you”, PA Media reported.
The teenage boy told those gathered in Woolwich: “He was a fun guy. He had a pure heart. He would always be there for you.”
Local councillor Asli Mohammed and the Bishop of Woolwich, Alastair Cutting, attended the vigil. A group of teenagers, including Kelyan’s friends, lit candles in memory of the 14-year-old at the front of the congregation.
Addressing the congregation, Reverend Jesse van der Valk said the service was “a time of reflection” and that members of Kelyan’s family were also present.
His mother, Mary Bokassa, told the BBC her son was “caring, very caring”. She was quoted as saying: “He loved to have his friends around and when they were round he would want to cook for them. He was good in music.
“Anything he loves … he was doing to his best ability. He was good at football … and he was extremely good at drawing.”
Bokassa said her son had been “groomed” by gangs and had previously been taken into care. She said she had asked for help and tried to keep him from associating with gangs.
Anti-knife campaigner Faron Paul also attended the service, where he called for more support and opportunities for those affected by violence.
Of Kelyan’s loved ones, Paul said: “If there’s anybody in here from the local government, if there’s anybody here from the council, from the government, really do try and make sure that you take the time and give them long-term support.
“These guys are really young and it’s causing more long-term effects with other people getting involved trying to get revenge.”
Youth violence was a “vicious circle”, he added.
Kelyan was a former pupil at St Columba’s Catholic boys school in Bexleyheath, south-east London. In a statement issued before he had been identified, the school said: “We are saddened by the loss of life in Woolwich yesterday of a young boy who was briefly a pupil of St Columba’s in 2022.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this difficult time. Our schools will provide support to any of the students who may be affected by this senseless violence.”
Kelyan was an aspiring rapper who performed under the name Grippa and had recorded a number of tracks posted online.
Ch Supt Louise Sargent, who is responsible for policing in Lewisham, said: “Our thoughts, at the time, are with the victim’s family and friends. It’s a horrendous crime and I can’t imagine what they must be going through right now.”
She added: “No arrests have been made at this early stage, but we are working at pace to identify and arrest those involved.”
Source: theguardian.com
