A 14-year-old boy stabbed to death on a bus in South-East London laid flowers only mere weeks ago for another boy who died after being knifed in the area. Tributes have now been paid to the 14-year-old aspiring rapper who killed on a route 472 bus in Woolwich Church Street.
He was stabbed shortly before 2.30pm in what police called a “horrendous” crime. A number of messages featuring pictures of doves were posted below a rap video on Instagram, in which a masked figure is seen holding a microphone as he performs for the camera in an underground car park.
On Tuesday, Mark Rodney, from anti-knife crime charity Project Lifeline, told reporters that just two weeks ago the victim had laid flowers for another teenager who met a violent death. Daejaun Campbell, 15, was stabbed to death in Eglinton Road, Woolwich, on September 22 last year, less than a mile-and-a-half away from Tuesday’s stabbing.
During the attack, Daejaun was fatally stabbed in the thigh and also suffered injuries to his hands and a wound to the head, the court heard last year. Speaking about Daejaun, his mum Jodian Taylor said at the time: “He was my baby. He was his brothers’ keepers. He was his grandma’s everything. Anyone who knew him could tell you that he had the biggest heart.”
Ms Taylor continued: “I’m going to miss his ability to make me laugh. The way he would comfort me. I’m going to miss his moments with his brothers. Most of all, I’m going to miss his cooking. He was very good at cooking.”
There was also a non-fatal stabbing at around 4.20pm on Monday in Prince Imperial Road, Woolwich, which led to an 18-year-old man being admitted to hospital. It is not thought to be linked to Tuesday’s murder.
(Image: PA Wire/PA Images)
Some 10 teenagers were killed in London last year, nine of whom were the victims of stabbing while one died in a shooting, according to data compiled by the PA news agency. This was down sharply from 21 teenage deaths in the capital in 2023.
The youngest victim in 2024 was 14. Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, Metropolitan Police Deputy Commander Louise Sargent described the attack as a “horrendous crime”, and said it is a “worrying time” for local residents.
She told reporters at the scene: “I’m very sad to say that, this afternoon, a 14-year-old boy has died. The initial alert was raised by a local officer out on patrol.
“Paramedics treated a 14-year-old boy at the scene who had received stab wounds but, really sadly, he died shortly after medics arrived. Our thoughts at this time are with the victim’s family and friends.
“This is a horrendous crime, and I can’t imagine what they must be going through right now. We are working at pace to identify and arrest those involved. I know this will be a worrying time for everyone here in Woolwich, and all the more so given the very young age of the victim.”
(Image: © 2025 PA Media, All Rights Reserved)
Sign up to our London Court & Crime newsletter for the latest major court updates and breaking news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up HERE