The heartbroken mum of teenager Kelyan Bokassa has revealed the tragic final message the teen wrote on her balcony before he was stabbed to death on a bus in London.
The 14-year-old was killed in front of passengers on the 472 bus in Woolwich, South East London, on Tuesday, just before 2.30pm. A manhunt is underway to find the suspect, according to police.
He had just enjoyed his first day back at Newhaven School in Eltham, a referral unit, after the Christmas break and was on his way to see social workers on a no.472 double-decker. But he was stabbed to death on the bus in what is feared to be a gangland killing, amid claims he was deliberately targeted in a tit-for-tat war.
Kelyan’s heartbroken mum Mary Bokassa, 50, described her son as “very kind and caring” who “cared about people and “had a good sense of humour.”
She revealed her son wrote “I love you mum” on the side of her balcony after running away from a children’s home, Kelyan said: “He lived in the streets for a year after he ran away from the children’s home. But when he came home, he wrote graffiti on the balcony to say he loved me.”
The 14-year-old was stabbed to death in a bus in London on Tuesday
Kelyan’s mum said he was ‘very kind and caring’
Mary previously told The Mirror: “He was interested in football and was a supporter of Arsenal. My son and others were taken advantage by gangs. They were groomed.” Mary added that police were involved with her son and that she felt he was being pushed towards going into care.
His mum said he dreamed of being a chef after being inspired by Jamie Oliver. She said: “It was his first day back at school he had his uniform on, he was very proud. It was another day, he was happy.
“He was full of life, he supported Arsenal. He was very good, very good. But he wanted to be a chef. He suffered from diabetes so learned to cook healthily. He liked Jamie Oliver, he told me ‘mum I want to be a chef’. We cooked together.”
Mary said Kelyan feared for his safety on the streets of London. She added: “He was on edge, very scared going out. He was targeted by gangs, groomed.” The mum also revealed that Kelyan lived in the streets in London for a year where he was groomed by gangs.
Kelyan was a pupil at St Columba’s Catholic Boys School in Bexleyheath, south east London. A spokesperson for the school said in a statement: “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.”
If anyone witnessed the incident or has any information which may help, they are urged to call police on 101 with ref 3795/07JAN25 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.