Lost to the gangs

Mum's grief for son, 14, stabbed to death amid fears he was groomed

-  PATRICK HILL and SHANNON MILLER

AS another family grieves the senseless loss of a teenager to the knife epidemic sweeping Britain, a tragically familiar tale of a descent from happy child to troubled teenage murder victim emerges.

Kelyan Bokassa, 14, was stabbed to death on a bus in broad daylight in what is feared to be a gangland killing.

And his devastated mum Mary told how she believes her son was lured to a mob after his family life fell apart.

Ahead of a vigil for the youngster last night, Mary said: "My son was taken advantage of by gangs.

"He was targeted by gangs and groomed.

"All the time when he left home I was just hoping he would come back. He was on edge, very scared going out. Months ago there was a stabbing and the day before him there was a stabbing, but yesterday was my turn. I still can't believe it.

I'm in shock. I can't believe he is gone.

"He had challenging times, but was very kind and caring. He had a good sense of humour."

There are unconfirmed reports Kelyan, a budding drill rapper who used the stage name Grippa, was targeted in a tit-for-tat gang war after giving away his whereabouts online.

Around an hour before he was killed, he posted a haunting message on Instagram, asking if any of his followers had a "mindy" - a street slang term for knife.

Kelyan's death, in Woolwich, South East London, on Tuesday comes just three months after his 15-year-old pal Daejaun Campbell was killed with a blade nearby.

Mary believes Kelyan, her only child, was targeted by gangs after he grew up without his father and was taken into care.