The grieving mother of Kelyan Bokassa, a 14-year-old stabbed to death on a bus in Woolwich, south-east London, has opened up about the challenges her son faced before his tragic death.

Kelyan, known in the music scene by his rap name "Grippa," was attacked in broad daylight on a route 472 bus at 2:30 pm on Tuesday, leaving passengers horrified. His mother, Mary Bokassa, 50, described her son as a 'kind, polite boy who loved football and supported Arsenal'.

However, beneath his cheerful demeanor, Kelyan had a troubled past. Ms. Bokassa revealed her son had been taken into care four years ago but frequently ran away, spending over a year living rough on the streets. During that time, she feared he had been groomed by gangs and exposed to drugs.

“He was very kind and caring, with a good sense of humor,” she said. “But my son and others were taken advantage of by gangs. They were groomed.”

She recounted the heart-wrenching moment Kelyan returned home after living on the streets, underweight and tattooed, saying, “He was not himself. He wouldn’t tell me anything about his friends. He had been exposed to something.”

Kelyan was placed with a Caribbean foster family for two years before being moved to Ocean Haven Children’s Home in Kent, where he continued to run away. Despite his struggles, he left graffiti on the family’s balcony expressing his love for his mother.

The teenager was on his way to meet his social worker at Woolwich Town Hall on his first day back at school when he was fatally attacked.

Kelyan attended St Columba’s Catholic Boys’ School in Bexleyheath. Just an hour before the attack, he posted a chilling message on Instagram asking for a "mindy," believed to refer to a knife in Somali slang.

Known as "Grippa," Kelyan had gained recognition as a drill rapper, releasing his latest track, Bangers & Mash, on Christmas Day.

The Metropolitan Police have launched a manhunt for Kelyan’s killer, calling the attack “horrendous” and “barbaric.” No arrests have been made.

Kelyan’s tragic death has highlighted the dangers of gang exploitation and youth violence in London, sparking fresh calls for support systems to protect vulnerable teenagers. Ms. Bokassa, while mourning her son, expressed hope that his story might serve as a wake-up call to address these pressing issues.

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