Devastated mum says her family is ‘broken’ after her ‘beautiful’ son, 19, was stabbed to death at home
A DEVASTATED mum says her family is "broken" after her "beautiful" son was stabbed to death at home.
Tai Jordan O'Donnell, 19, was discovered with knife wounds to his legs in Croydon, south London, on March 3 and was tragically pronounced dead at the scene.
Yesterday, Tai’s mother Stacey O’Donnell said her world had been shattered by her son’s death.
Mother-of-four Stacey, 35, said her 19-year-old son’s death, which was not gang-related, had left her family “broken”.
In a statement she said: “Tai was my first child and will always be my baby.
"He was one in a million, a loving, kind, beautiful human being and we as family couldn’t be prouder of the man he was growing into.
"Tai’s passion in life was to take care of those that he loved.
“One of the things he wanted most in life was for the world to hear his music and to be able to buy me a house."
Tai was planning to go on to university as his teachers and peers said he had "every potential" to achieve his goals.
'ONE IN A MILLION'
Because he turned 18 just before the pandemic, Tai never got to experience things that most teenagers do - including going to nightclubs, music festivals or travelling to different parts of the world.
His beloved mum added: "He was so looking forward to returning to college and hoping to get back to normal.
"Tai's life came to a horrific and tragic end whilst in the safety of his own home, he deserved so much better than this.
"He deserves to be remembered for the amazing young man he was - not just another statistic.
"A beautiful soul has been taken from this world far too soon.
"We are completely broken without him and he has left a devastating void in mine and our whole family’s lives.
"It can never be filled. As a family we implore people please put down your knives."
Kamila Ahmad, 22, of Robinhood Lane, Mitcham, was arrested and was charged with murder on March 7.
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And police have also arrested a 26-year-old man on suspicion of murder.
Funds are being raised for Tai's family following the tragic ordeal.