MUM'S AGONY
Devastated mum reveals Arsenal fan son, 14, was ‘groomed by gang & plied with drugs’ before being knifed to death on bus
Friends have said the teen was 'taken too soon'
A MUM has revealed how her son was "groomed by gangs" before he was stabbed to death on a bus in a horror broad daylight attack.
Keen footballer Kelyan Bokassa, 14, died at the scene in Woolwich, south-east London, shortly before 2.30pm on Tuesday.
10
10
10
10
His mum today described her teenage son as "caring" in a poignant tribute.
She said Kelyan lived on the streets in London for a year where he was groomed by gangs and "exposed to drugs" before his death.
Fighting back tears, Mary Bokassa, 50, told The Sun: “He was very and caring. He cares about people and had a good sense of humour.
“He was very polite. He was interested in football and was a supporter of Arsenal.
Read more news
“We had to move around and he was in care, he was there for four years with no progress. I begged for contact with my son.
“I had to get the support of a lawyer. He was missing for a year and was living on the street.
“He finally turned up at my doorstep, he was sick, underweight and tattooed.
The mum said her young son was then "taken advantage of" by local gangs.
Most read in The Sun
She added: “He was exposed to drugs. He probably experienced something because I could sense it.
“He was not himself. If I questioned him he wouldn’t tell me anything about his friends.
Schoolboy, 14, stabbed to death on bus in broad-daylight horror as manhunt launched for killer
“My son and others were taken advantage by gangs. They were groomed."
Mary continued: "He lived in the streets for a year after he ran away from the children’s home.
“But when he came home wrote graffiti on the balcony to say he loved me."
Kelyan is said to have been on his way to Woolwich Town Hall to see his social worker on what was his first day back at school when he was stabbed to death.
It comes as dozens of tributes have been made for the teen online, with the hashtag Long Live Kelyan (LLK) seen across TikTok and Instagram.
Kelyan attended St Columba’s Catholic Boys' School in Bexleyheath, south-east London, which was opened by former Conservative Tory prime minister Ted Heath in 1973.
No arrests have yet been made in connection with his death, with an urgent police manhunt ongoing.
Pals of the boy have said he was "taken too soon" and described him as a keen footballer.
One pal said: “Kelyan was a good friend. He was liked by lots of people and was devoted to doing his music thing.
“He didn’t deserve to die.”
Another said: “I knew him he was a nice guy, very energetic, a decent guy, he will be missed.”
10
10
10
The horror unfolded on a Route 472 bus in Woolwich Church Road, near the junction with the A205 South Circular Road, at around 2.30pm.
Officers attended, along with London Ambulance Service and London's Air Ambulance.
Paramedics treated a 14-year-old boy at the scene who had received stab wound injuries, but he sadly died soon after.
Detective Chief Inspector Martin Thorpe, who is leading the investigation, today said: “Following Kelyan’s tragic death yesterday, specialist officers are now leading the investigation which is progressing at pace."
He added: "If anyone saw this horrific attack or was in the area then I urge them to come forward and speak to officers.
"We’re particularly interested in any mobile phone footage that captured this incident or any dash cam or doorbell footage from around the surrounding area at the time of this incident.
"I know this is an incredibly worrying time for those in Woolwich, and there will continue to be an enhanced police presence in the area.
"Our thoughts remains with Kelyan’s family, who are being supported by specialist officers at this difficult time."
Superintendent Louise Sergent earlier told a press briefing yesterday the attack was a “horrendous crime”.
She added: "We are working at pace to arrest the person involved."
Ms Sergeant described how the initial alert was made by a local police officer out on patrol.
She continued: “Paramedics treated a 14-year-old boy at the scene who had received stab wounds, but really sadly, he died shortly after medics arrived.
“Our thoughts at this time are with the victim’s family and friends.
“This is a horrendous crime, and I can’t imagine what they must be going through right now.
“We are working at pace to identify and arrest those involved.
“I know this will be a worrying time for everyone here in Woolwich, and all the more so given the very young age of the victim.”
The Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan added: “My thoughts are with the family, friends and wider community in Greenwich following the appalling fatal stabbing of a 14-year-old boy.
“This heart-breaking violence has absolutely no place in our city.
“I am in close contact with police leaders – an investigation is underway and local residents will see increased patrols in the local area.”
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Some 10 teenagers were killed in London last year, nine of whom were the victims of stabbing while one died in a shooting, according to data compiled by the PA news agency.
This was down sharply from 21 teenage deaths in the capital in 2023.
The youngest victim in 2024 was aged 14.
10
10
10
Topics