Vigil for Elianne Andam as slain schoolgirl’s family say ‘our hearts are broken’

The family of a 15-year-old girl stabbed to death on her way to school have spoken of their grief, revealing the aspiring lawyer was robbed of “a great future”.

Elianne Andam collapsed after being stabbed in the neck with a foot-long blade as she allegedly stepped in to protect a friend during rush hour in Croydon on Wednesday morning.

A bus driver and bystanders fought to save the Old Palace of John Whitgift School pupil’s life, but she died on the pavement minutes later.

On Thursday evening, the family gathered at the scene of the stabbing. They wept as a church leader read an emotional statement about their loss.

The statement, which was read as family members wept and comforted each other, said: “We as a family are struggling to come to terms with this painful tragedy that has befallen our beautiful daughter and beloved sister Elianne. Our hearts are broken.

“And we are overwhelmed with sadness and grief. Our faith in the Lord strengthens us.”

More than 20 relatives and close friends laid flowers before the group entered nearby Whitgift Shopping Centre. Some put their arms around each other as flowers were placed on the ground.

Those gathered held hands and comforted each other as they entered the building inside the police cordon.

Elianne’s friends were “in tears” and “so emotional” at school on Thursday and teachers said “when you walked into a room you knew she was there”.

Donna Murray-Turner, chair of the local Safe Neighborhood Council, told crowds gathered outside the police cordon on Thursday night that she had visited the girls’ school, Old Palace of John Whitgift School, earlier in the day.

She said she read messages in the condolence book and “talks about her laugh”.

She added: “Staff, teachers, talked about when he walked into a room you knew he was there. And her friends, as you can imagine, were crying. They were so excited.”

A 17-year-old boy has been charged with murder and will appear in court on Friday.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Elianne’s family said Thursday: “Our hearts are broken by the senseless death of our daughter.

“Elianne was the light of our lives. She was bright and funny, with many friends who all adored her.

“He was only 15 and had his whole life ahead of him with hopes and dreams for the future.

“All those dreams have been shattered now. Our lives fell apart, along with that of our wider family.”

Her family released a series of pictures of the school while asking for privacy “to mourn the short life of our beautiful child”.

The victim’s aunt Marian, who lives half a mile from the crime scene, said earlier that the teenager’s mother was an NHS nurse who saved for her to go to the Old Palace of John Whitgift School to help her achieve her dream to be a lawyer.

Speaking to MailOnline, Marian said: ‘You just can’t fathom the heartache of the last 24 hours, how Elianne went to school and never came home.

“She wanted to be a lawyer, went to private school paid for by my sister and had a great future ahead of her. She was a pretty girl, she liked to do her hair, she had beautiful natural hair and she really liked gymnastics.”

Witnesses said Elianne was stabbed after she intervened in a heated argument between her friend and the friend’s former “boyfriend” outside Whitgift shopping center in Croydon.

It is understood the boy tried to give his ex-girlfriend a bouquet of flowers on a 60-decker bus which was packed with commuters and other school children.

The stabbing is said to have happened shortly after they got off, when the girl is said to have rejected the flowers.

Elianne was said to have intervened, causing the boy to pull out the foot-long, jagged zombie knife, before stabbing her in the neck and chest.

Scotland Yard confirmed that a 17-year-old boy was arrested 75 minutes later in New Addington. No one else was wanted in the attack.

Detectives were seen on Thursday searching a drain in front of a bus parked in Croydon, where the stabbing took place. Officers were seen earlier searching the long grass inside the police cordon.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said magistrates had given officers a further 24 hours to detain the teenage suspect until tomorrow morning.

Elianne, from a West African Christian family, was the 15th teenage homicide victim in London this year, surpassing the figure for all of last year. Of the young people killed, 13 were stabbed and two were shot. Last year, there were 14 murders of teenagers in the capital. The worst year for teenage homicides in London was 2021, when 30 teenagers lost their lives.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley both visited the crime scene.

Outside Elianne’s school, Mal Soor, father of head girl Chilteen Soor, said: “Every parent is devastated. Fifteen is no age at all to be killed in the street.

“It seems unbelievable to think we need to have conversations with our children about knife crime. I tell them to always have their wits about them and be wise, but that’s not enough either.

“My daughter is on the move because the school community is so small. Everyone knows everyone.

“I have to go to work today, but all I want to do is be with Chilteen and throw him a ring of protection.”

The private girls’ school said in a statement: “We are deeply shocked by the senseless and tragic death of our much-loved and valued friend and pupil.

“It will take some time for the Old Palace community to come to terms with this terrible news and we will offer support to our students as we try to do so.”

A steady stream of well-wishers left flowers and cards near the scene this morning. Chief Superintendent Andy Brittain told reporters on Wednesday: “This is every parent’s worst nightmare and I know the officers who responded this morning, along with our colleagues from the emergency services, are devastated by the victim’s death.

“This is an emotion I share and I know the people of Croydon will feel the same.”

A mother witnessed the moments after Elianne was stabbed. The woman, named Iman, said: “I was walking past when I noticed someone lying on the floor.

“I drove, parked and tried to get as close as I could. Two young girls said she was a young lady and that she had been stabbed in the neck. I didn’t sleep properly because I still have that image of her lying there.”

Anyone who witnessed what happened and has not yet spoken to police is asked to call 101 quoting CAD 1601/27Sep.

You can also share information, photos and videos directly with the police Here.