The teenager, who was fatally attacked in Woolwich, was described as ‘very, very caring’ by his mother. Mourners gathered to remember a teenager stabbed to death on a London bus at a church vigil on Wednesday evening. Kelyan Bokassa, 14, was travelling on a 472 bus to Abbey Wood when he was attacked at about 2.30pm on Tuesday as the bus was on Woolwich Church Road.
On Wednesday, about 35 mourners – including friends of the victim – gathered to pay tribute at St Mary Magdalene Church in Woolwich. One of Kelyan’s friends described him as someone who would “always be there for you”, PA Media reported. The teenage boy told those gathered in Woolwich: “He was a fun guy. He had a pure heart. He would always be there for you.”.
Local councillor Asli Mohammed and the Bishop of Woolwich, Alastair Cutting, attended the vigil. A group of teenagers, including Kelyan’s friends, lit candles in memory of the 14-year-old at the front of the congregation. Addressing the congregation, Reverend Jesse van der Valk said the service was “a time of reflection” and that members of Kelyan’s family were also present.
His mother, Mary Bokassa, told the BBC her son was “caring, very caring”. It quoted her as saying: “He loved to have his friends around and when they were round he would want to cook for them. He was good in music. “Anything he loves … he was doing to his best ability. He was good at football … and he was extremely good at drawing.”.
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