Mother Claims Gangs Groomed Her 14-Year-Old Son Before His Murder
Kelyan Bokassa was tragically stabbed to death on a bus in Woolwich, southeast London, on Tuesday afternoon.
The mother of a 14-year-old boy who was fatally wounded on the bus revealed that he had been influenced by gangs after fleeing care and living on the streets.
Aspiring rapper Kelyan Bokassa lost his life on a route 472 bus in Woolwich Church Street, near the Woolwich Ferry, just before 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday in what authorities described as a “horrendous” crime.
Mary Bokassa, his mother, shared with MailOnline: “My son and others were manipulated by gangs. They were groomed.
She added: “He had been missing for a year and was living on the streets. Eventually, he reappeared at my door, sick, underweight, and tattooed… He had been exposed to drugs. There was something he had been through because I could sense it.
“He wasn’t himself. When I asked him about his friends, he wouldn’t say anything.”
Bokassa mentioned that her son, who had been in care for four years, was kind and compassionate, enjoyed football, and stated: “I can’t believe he’s gone. It’s unimaginable.”
Tributes poured in for Kelyan on social media, with numerous messages featuring pictures of doves shared alongside a rap video on Instagram.
The video, posted under the name Grippa, depicted a masked figure in black holding a microphone while performing for the camera in an underground car park.
He briefly attended St. Columba’s Catholic Boys School in Bexleyheath, southeast London, in 2022.
The South East London Catholic Academy Trust issued a statement expressing sadness over the loss of life in Woolwich and extending thoughts and prayers to the family and friends of the victim during this challenging time.
Kelyan’s murder led to a surge of online discussions, including mentions of another teenager who met a violent end in the same London area in September of the previous year.
The Metropolitan Police clarified that there are no apparent links between the two incidents, and their investigation is in its early stages.
An additional non-fatal stabbing occurred on Monday in Woolwich, resulting in an 18-year-old being hospitalized; however, it is believed to be unrelated to Kelyan’s murder.
The authorities identified Kelyan on Wednesday afternoon.
Detective Chief Inspector Martin Thorpe stated: “Following Kelyan’s tragic passing, specialized officers are leading the investigation, which is progressing rapidly.
“The incident occurred on a route 472 bus on Woolwich Church Street at the Woolwich Ferry bus stop. If anyone witnessed the attack or was in the area, I urge them to come forward and assist the authorities.
“We are particularly interested in any mobile phone, dashcam, or doorbell footage capturing the incident or surrounding area at that time.”
According to data compiled by the PA news agency, there were ten teenage fatalities in London last year, with nine attributed to stabbings and one to a shooting.
This marked a significant decline from 21 teenage deaths in the capital in 2023, with the youngest victim in 2024 being 14 years old.
Anyone with information is urged to contact police or remain anonymous by contacting Crimestoppers.
