Elvis Tacu, 16, died from a knife wound after he was attacked near his home in Hillingdon on Thursday evening. Officers were sent to Philpot’s Farm Open Space, close to Heather Lane in Yiewsley, but Elvis was pronounced dead at 8.25pm.
His killing took the total number of teenage homicides in London last year to a record high of 30, one above the previous peak of 29, in a depressing milestone which was marked by statements of remorse from the Metropolitan Police and Mayor Sadiq Khan.
The victim’s mother, Mihaela, said her son had never carried a weapon and his death had left his family “heartbroken”.
The hairdresser, 37, told the Standard on Wednesday: “He was a loving boy who was peaceful and respected everyone. He would never carry a knife and was a trusting sort of person who just wanted to make friends. We are heartbroken. This knife violence has torn our family apart. Parents should search their children for knives and the Government must do more on knife crime.”
The mother added: “We originally came from Romania and have worked hard and bought our own home. We wanted a better life and have done well here but we are now considering leaving London, or even the UK. We feel not enough is being done to protect young people like our son.”
A 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Ealing youth court on Tuesday charged with his murder. He was remanded in custody and ordered to appear at the Old Bailey on Thursday.
The family described how Elvis’s three-year-old brother was struggling to come to terms with the tragedy. Their father Jenel, 44, a bus driver, said: “His brother keeps asking ‘when is he coming back?’ and looking in his room. It’s breaking our hearts.”
The family and friends are raising money to send Elvis’s body to Romania. A page has been set up at gofundme.com/f/help-repatriated-elvis-body-to-his-birth-country
