Overview

• Kelyan Bokassa, an aspiring rapper and former pupil of St Columba’s Catholic Boys School, was fatally stabbed on a route 472 bus in Woolwich on Tuesday afternoon.
• The 14-year-old’s mother revealed he had been groomed by gangs after running away from care, describing him as a caring and talented individual who loved music, football, and drawing.
• A vigil held at St Mary Magdalene Church gathered friends, family, and community members who paid tribute to Kelyan and called for more support to combat youth violence.
• The Metropolitan Police have launched an investigation but have not made any arrests, urging witnesses and anyone with information to come forward.
• The incident highlights ongoing concerns over knife crime in London, where 10 teenagers were killed in 2024, nine of them in stabbings.