Fourteen yr outdated boy rapper’s fateful final Instagram put up minutes earlier than he was ‘murdered’ on Woolwich bus amid vicious gang conflict that noticed 15-year-old ‘killed with zombie knife’ months earlier
A 14-year-old boy stabbed to death in Woolwich yesterday made a fateful final Instagram post minutes before he was ‘murdered’ on bus – in an area where vicious gang warfare has gripped the streets.
The teenager, who today has been named as Kelyan Bokassa, was stabbed in front of horrified passengers on a route 472 bus in Woolwich at around 2.30pm on Tuesday.
A manhunt is currently ongoing for the knifeman who carried out the ‘horrendous’ and ‘barbaric’ attack. No arrests have yet been made.
Around an hour before he was killed, the schoolboy posted a chilling message on Instagram, asking if any of his followers had a ‘mindy’. This is believed to be in reference to the word ‘mindi’, which is Somalian for ‘knife’.
The teenager was also an established drill rapper, going by the street name ‘Grippa’, with his latest track ‘Bangers & Mash’ having been released on Christmas Day.
The music video shows ‘Grippa’ pretending to wave a knife in the air as he raps: ‘I’m the shortest shooter on my block but I still roll with the longest ting’.
There are also numerous references to the police as ‘pigs’, gangs, guns and prison throughout, including one line where he talks about ‘swords’ and ‘getting popped’.
Grippa’s death comes amid a spate of brutal ‘tit-for-tat violence with all the hallmarks of a turf war’ which has rocked Woolwich, which is believed to have already claimed the life of another teen – schoolboy, Daejaun Campbell.
The 15-year-old was fatally stabbed in the leg with a ‘zombie knife’ on September 22, crying out ‘I’m 15, don’t let me die’ as he bled to death in Eglinton Road, Woolwich – less than a mile-and-a-half away from Tuesday’s stabbing.
The 14-year-old boy who was knifed to death in Woolwich yesterday posted a haunting message on Instagram before his death, asking if any of his followers had a ‘mindy’. This is believed to be in reference to the word ‘mindi’, which is Somalian for ‘knife’
The teenager (pictured) believed to be an aspiring gangster rapper named online as ‘Grippa’
It comes less than four months after the death of another teenager – Daejaun Campbell, 15 (pictured) – who was also fatally stabbed in Woolwich in September last year
An image from the scene after a 14-year-old was stabbed to death on a bus in Woolwich
On Tuesday, Mark Rodney, from anti-knife crime charity Project Lifeline, claimed Grippa had laid flowers in memory of Daejaun just two weeks ago.
Three teenagers, Jacob Losiewicz, 18, Marko Balaz, 18, and a 17-year-old youth have since been charged with Daejaun’s murder.
During Losiewicz’s hearing on September 30, prosecutor William Emlyn Jones KC said Daejaun’s death came amid ‘tit-for-tat violence with all the hallmarks of a turf war’.
Police also previously said his murder was a ‘stark and sobering reminder of the danger of zombie-style knives’.
London is already in the middle of an outbreak of violence, with gang warfare having spiralled ‘out of control’ in recent months, fuelled by rivalries often stoked by drill rap.
In Sydenham, a few miles south of Woolwich, expectant father Curtis Green, 30, was gunned down in Wells Park Road on November 11, with locals saying the shooting was the latest in a series of violent incidents in the leafy London suburb.
Although unconfirmed, its feared schoolboy ‘Grippa’ may be the latest victim in the capital’s bloody drill rap war.
Yesterday, a close friend of the teenager broke down in tears when he arrived at the cordon, after being told by his mother that his pal had been stabbed to death.
Locals last night told of their shock and sadness at the youngster’s killing. One woman said: ‘It’s barbaric. It was a bloodbath. It is a horrific situation.’
Tributes have poured in for the young musician named ‘Grippa’ with devastated friends on social media saying he was ‘taken too soon’
Grippa posted videos of him drill rapping online with his latest track Bangers & Mash released on Christmas Day
The music video shows ‘Grippa’ pretending to wave a knife and gun in the air numerous times
There are also references to the police as ‘pigs’, gangs, guns and prison throughout.
Another local, a mother, said: ‘We heard the young lad was repeatedly stabbed. It is utterly horrific.’
Mechanic Dave Murray, 62, from Plumstead said: ‘It’s tragic. Whatever those boys were fighting about it’s never worth it.’
Mother Shula added: ‘I can’t believe that a boy was stabbed to death on the bus. Is it too dangerous to go on the bus now?’
One resident who lives inside the cordoned off area said: ‘This is heartbreaking.’ I can’t believe this has happened. We have only just started the New Year.
‘A 14-year-old boy stabbed in broad daylight on a bus. What is the world coming to?’
A woman working at a nearby church said she saw an air ambulance and other emergency service vehicles arrive at the scene, but did not see any of the passengers from the bus.
The Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan said: ‘My thoughts are with the family, friends and wider community in Greenwich following the appalling fatal stabbing of a 14-year-old boy.
‘This heart-breaking violence has absolutely no place in our city.
‘I am in close contact with police leaders – an investigation is underway and local residents will see increased patrols in the local area.’
A police officer walks past a bus stop on Woolwich Church Road in Woolwich after a 14-year-old boy was stabbed to death on a bus
Two police officers stand in front of a police cordon on Woolwich Church Road where the teenager was stabbed to death on Tuesday
A police officers walk along the road where a 14-year-old boy was stabbed to death on a London Bus on Tuesday
Police guard a cordon after a teenager was fatally stabbed on a London bus on Tuesday, January 7, 2025
Footage posted to social media showed first responders performing first aid at the scene
The Met Police attended, along with London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance.
Chief superintendent Louise Sargent said: ‘I know this will be a worrying time for everyone here in Woolwich, and even more so given the very young age of the victim.
‘The community can expect to see an enhanced police presence around the scene and the surrounding area I would urge anyone who witnessed this horrific incident or has any information that might help to call police on 101.’
Forensic officers could be seen taking pictures of the road close to where the youngster was stabbed.
The incident came just 24 hours after an 18-year-old boy was left fighting for his life after being knifed just over a mile away from the murder scene.
The teenager, who attended Shooters Hill College in Woolwich, is in a critical in hospital after the stabbing in Prince Imperial Road at around 4.20pm on Monday.
Police confirmed on Tuesday afternoon that the the two stabbings were not linked, reported MyLondon.
A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: ‘We were called at 2.29pm today (7 January) to reports of a stabbing at the junction of Woolwich Church Street and Church Hill, SE18.
‘We sent resources to the scene, including an ambulance crew, a paramedic in a fast response car, an incident response officer and a paramedic from our tactical response unit. We also dispatched London’s Air Ambulance.
‘Sadly, despite the best efforts of our crews, a teenager was pronounced dead at the scene.’
Several London bus routes were diverted as a result of the incident, including the 161, 177, 180 and 472.
Forensic officers were seen on board the double decker bus shining torches and gathering evidence on Tuesday
A forensic officer is seen holding a weapons tube used to collect evidence while on board the bus – January 7, 2025
Police cordons remain in place after a murder probe was launched – no one has yet been arrested
Local councillor Rachel Taggart-Ryan posted on social media and said: ‘I’m deeply saddened to hear of the murder of a 14 year old boy in Woolwich today. Detectives from the Serious and Complex team are investigating.’
Margaret Mizen, the mother of Jimmy Mizen who was killed aged 16 in London in 2008 when a glass dish was smashed into his face, said her heart went out to the family of the 14 year old.
Writing on X, she said: ‘Today, it is incredibly sad, may this young man rest in eternal peace. His friends and family are in my prayers as they somehow come to terms with this cruel act. They will all be feeling completely heartbroken.’
Labour MP for Greenwich and Woolwich, Matthew Pennycook, urged anyone with any information to contact police.
‘Deeply saddened that another young life has been lost in our community today following a stabbing in Woolwich,’ he wrote on X. ‘My thoughts are with the family and friends of the deceased.’
Anthony Okereke, the leader of Royal Borough Greenwich, said the council was working closely with Scotland Yard in response to ‘this horrific incident’.
‘I am deeply saddened to learn about the tragic murder of a young person in our borough,’ the Labour councillor said.
‘My thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with their family as they face this unimaginable loss.’
An air ambulance arrived at the scene but unfortunately the boy was declared dead by paramedics at the scene
Police at the scene in Woolwich tonight, south east London, where a 14-year-old boy has been stabbed to death on a route 472 bus
Mark Rodney, chief executive officer of Project Lifeline, a community interest charity, said the death of a 14-year-old boy was ‘devastating’.
He said: ‘It’s another devastating blow to the community. Young people are being let down.’
Knife crime is on the rise in London, with 15,016 offences recorded in 2023/24, up from 12,786 the year before, a 17.4% rise.
It is the highest number of offences since 2019/2020, after which there was a significant drop during the Covid pandemic, followed by a steady annual increase.
According to the Crime in England and Wales 2024 report, around 30% of knife-enabled crime was recorded by the Metropolitan Police Service.
Some 10 teenagers were killed in London last year, nine of whom were the victims of stabbing while one died in a shooting.
This was down sharply from 21 teenage deaths in the capital in 2023. The youngest victim in 2024 was aged 14.
If anyone witnessed the incident or has any information which may help, they are urged to call police on 101 with ref 3795/07JAN25 or call Crimestoppers anonymously.
MailOnline has contacted the Met Police for comment.
