A 15-year-old school girl has been stabbed to death in South London by a 17-year-old boy on Wednesday when she was on her way to school. According to the Evening Standard, the crime took place near Croydon’s Whitgift shopping sector, when the boy arrived at a bus stop to give flowers to his former girlfriend- a friend of the victim.
The friend rejected the flowers after which an argument rose between the two, leading to the victim intervening. The murderer then pulled out a foot-long knife and stabbed her to death.
The Metropolitan Police arrested the murderer within 75 minutes in New Addington and placed him under custody. Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley called the murder “senseless” and “impossible to comprehend”, adding that officers arrived within two minutes at the scene of the crime to provide first aid to the victim.
The BBC reported Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said that he was “absolutely heartbroken” by the murder, stressing that he would remain in touch with the Met Police commissioner.
Friends and family members of the victim have described the school girl as a bright pupil who had a promising future ahead of her. Family friend Adama Dumbuya, told Sky News the victim was a lovely little girl.
“It’s just really sad. She was such a lovely little girl. I’m a parent myself. She was just really lovely the few times I’ve met her. She’s just a very nice girl and very polite.”
The victim’s aunt Marian described her as an aspiring lawyer:
“She went to a private school paid by my sister and had a great future ahead of her. She wanted to be a lawyer. She also loved gymnastics and doing her hair. We are a big family and will support each other. We are devastated.”
“We can’t comprehend the heartbreak of the last 24 hours. She went to school and didn’t come home. It hasn’t sunk in. My sister is not feeling good, this is a tragedy.”