The mother of a schoolboy stabbed to death in south London said he had interviewed for his dream college course just hours before he was killed.
Rommel McKoy was found in Hicken Road, Brixton, with a knife wound after police were scrambled to the scene just after 7.30pm on April 4.
He was given CPR and taken to hospital when he died 16 days later. Homicide detectives are now hunting for who killed him.
A 16-year-old boy was arrested on April 15 and a 17-year-old boy was arrested on April 20. Both have been bailed until mid-May.
Rommel’s mother Karen told the Standard that she had accompanied him to an interview at Merton College for a science and engineering course earlier on the day he was fatally wounded.
He was attacked just a five minute walk from his Brixton home.
She said: “He was so happy, he was going to study his dream course of science and engineering.
“He had his whole life ahead of him. We got home and he said ‘I’m just going go to check my friends’ and that’s the last I saw of him.
“I’m devastated he wanted to be an engineer or scientist. He was so kind and thoughtful and intelligent. His friends loved him. He was calm but so ambitious. He wanted to do so well in his career that he could buy me a house by the time he was 25.
“I don’t know how I can get over this. I can’t believe he has gone, we are devastated. His 11 year old sister and older brother are finding it hard to cope. He was never in any trouble, he was a good boy.”
She called for more action against those carrying knives, saying: “There need to be stronger penalties. Enough is enough.”
The teenager had attended City Heights Academy in Tulse Hill.
One of his teachers said: “Rommel was a kind and respectful young man.”
Detective Chief Inspector Sal Minhas, from the Specialist Crime Command, said: “A 16-year-old boy has lost his life and his family deserve answers to their questions about what happened to him.
“I want to reassure Rommel’s family that we are committed to bringing the person or people responsible to justice.
“Thank you to everyone who has spoken to police already about this incident. If you have not already contacted us, it is now even more vital that you do so without delay. Please let my team be the judge of what is important as you may have information that will be key to our investigation.”
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or to remain anonymous Crimestoppers 0800 555 111.
