The grieving family of a 15-year-old schoolgirl who was stabbed to death while trying to protect her friend have paid tribute to the “light of their lives”.
Old Palace student Elianne Andam was stabbed to death in Croydon after the boy tried to give his ex-girlfriend flowers and a love note on the bus at floor 60.
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Old Palace student Elianne Andam was stabbed to death in Croydon
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A 15-year-old girl was stabbed when she tried to protect her friend Credit: LNP
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A student is seen carrying flowers to lay for the sacrificeCredit: Jeremy Selwyn
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Elianne’s family paid tribute
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Marian, the teenage victim’s aunt, said she was a ‘lovely girl’Credit: Jeremy Selwyn
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Police officers, including those who rushed to try to save her, laid flowers at the sceneCredit: PA
She was returning her bag of belongings after they had recently broken up, but an argument broke out and he chased after her at the bus stop.
The boy is said to have pulled out a foot-long, serrated zombie knife and stabbed Elianne when she jumped to her friend’s defense in Wellesley Road, south London, yesterday.
Both ground and air ambulances rushed to the scene but she was pronounced dead at the scene 40 minutes later.
About an hour and 15 minutes after the stabbing, police arrested a teenager in connection with the girl’s death.
This morning, his detention was extended for 12 hours.
Today, Elianne’s family spoke of their pain.
A spokesman for Elianne’s family said: “Our hearts are broken by the senseless death of our daughter.
“Elianne was the light of our lives. She was bright and witty, with many friends who all adored her.
“She was only 15 years old, and her whole life was ahead of her, with hopes and dreams for the future.
“All those dreams are now shattered. Our lives fell apart, along with the life of our extended family.
“We ask the media to respect our privacy as we try to grieve the short life of our beautiful child.”
It comes after Marian, the teenage victim’s aunt, told the Sun outside the family home just half a mile from the crime scene: “She had a bright future ahead of her.
“She was a lovely girl, she liked to dress up. She wanted to be a lawyer, and she attended a private school that was paid for by my sister.
“We are devastated by this. She was 15 years old, what can I say? This is a tragedy and the worst thing that has happened to the family.
“It’s a big family and everyone gathered because of my sister, we cheer each other on.
“We cannot fathom the heartbreak of the last 24 hours. We hope to issue a further statement at a later date.
– She went to school and didn’t come home.
When asked how Elianne’s mum was feeling, the aunt said: “It’s not good. It only happened yesterday.”
A family friend of Elianne said her little brother would be “so heartbroken”.
Croydon resident Adama Dumbuya, 30, said: “It’s really sad. She was such a lovely little girl. I’m a parent myself.
“She’s been very lovely the few times I’ve met her. She’s just a very nice girl and very polite.
“She helped a lot to look after her brother. I just can’t imagine what he will be like. She had a little brother.
“I know they were so close. She always looked out for him. She will be so heartbroken.”
Anthony King, chairman of My Ends – a project which helps tackle youth violence in Croydon, was with the girl’s family after the incident and said they were “heartbroken”.
He added: “She had a bright future ahead of her. She was in her GCSE year.”
Mr King described the girl as an “absolutely amazing young lady” and said others said she was “cheerful, very comical”.
A bloodstained bouquet was seen on the floor outside Whitgift Shopping Center at the scene yesterday.
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Personal belongings on the floor near a bus in central Croydon yesterdayCredit: LNP
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Friends said Elianne has a ‘bright future’ ahead of herCredit: TikTok
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Forensic investigator seen carrying flower from crime sceneCredit: PA
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Witnesses say the young man tried to give his ex-girlfriend flowers and a love note on the busCredit: Getty
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Bloodied bouquet seen on floor outside Whitgift Shopping CenterCredit: Peter Jordan
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More than 40 bunches of flowers were laidCredit: Jeremy Selwyn
Security worker Victor Asare described the horrific scene, saying: “A lot of people came, everyone got off the bus.
“(The suspect) ran. Everyone was crying and screaming. The girl was on the floor.
“We tried to catch him and a lot of people tried to save the little girl. I was so shocked, I was shaken. It’s somebody’s daughter.
“I finished work but I couldn’t sleep so I came back. I wanted to see if the girl was okay.”
He said the girl, who was wearing a green jacket, looked like she “didn’t want the boy to come any closer” before he stabbed her with the knife, which was “black, thin and about a foot long”.
Her family rushed to the scene, but she died 50 minutes after the stabbing at 8.30am.
The suspect fled to New Addington, five miles away, where he was arrested on a tram.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he was “absolutely devastated” at the news of the girl’s death.
“My thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of this young girl, and the entire community, at this unimaginably awful time,” he added.
“I promise to keep working day and night to end the scourge of knives in our city.”
Croydon Mayor Jason Perry said in a statement on social media: “I am devastated to hear that a teenage girl who was stabbed in the town center this morning has tragically passed away.
“The council is in contact with the police and will fully support their investigations.
“The thoughts of our entire community will be with the family and friends of the victim.”
Sarah Jones, MP for Croydon Central, tweeted: “Heartbroken that a child has been killed on his way to school.
“I can’t imagine what her family and friends are going through at this terrible time.”
The school said in a statement: “We are deeply shocked by the senseless and tragic death of our beloved and respected friend and student.
“The community of Old Court will take some time to come to terms with this terrible news and we will offer support to our students as we try to do so.
“Above all, we send our love and deepest sympathy to the girl’s family at this unimaginably difficult time.”
More than 40 bunches of flowers were laid, and a number of cards and candles were placed at the venue.
One card read: “Rest in peace angel, condolences to your family at this very sad time.”
Another said: “Rest in peace little princess so sad your life was taken at the peak. You touched my soul.”
A woman who works opposite where Elianne was stabbed to death said she was “hit in her prime”.
Filomena Merola laid flowers next to the police tape on Thursday morning.
The 57-year-old, who grew up in Croydon, said: “That young girl couldn’t even go to school without being mowed down.
“We all have young teenagers in our lives, in our families. It just struck a chord.”
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A letter addressed to the girl was also left among the tributes Credits: PA
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Both ground and air ambulances rushed to the sceneCredit: Twitter
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Doctors fought to save the student, but she died at the sceneCredit: UKNIP
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Flowers at a crime scene in Croydon todayCredit: Jeremy Selwyn
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