chance
19-05-2006, 14:56
A football club has paid tribute to one of its youth team members who was stabbed to death outside his school.
Kiyan Prince, 15, described as "one for the future" by Queens Park Rangers, was attacked outside the London Academy in Edgware, north London, on Thursday.
Pupils and staff walked past floral tributes as they returned to the school on Friday.
Police, who have stepped up patrols in Edgware, said Kiyan was in an argument with 16-year-old boy who then ran off.
The school's principal Phil Hearne said Kiyan's family are "devastated" by his death.
Teachers saw Kiyan, who played as a striker for QPR's youth team, collapse and immediately contacted the police, who arrived within a minute, Mr Hearne said.
We've got children sitting in corners either in tears or comforting someone in tears
School principal Phil Hearne
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Head of youth at Championship club QPR Joe Gallen said: "It's a tragic loss to Queens Park Rangers Football Club, but more so to his family and friends.
"He was a great lad, a terrific prospect, and it's a huge setback for everyone that knew him.
"He was an intelligent, smart, good-looking young man with a very bright future in the game and he'll be sorely missed."
QPR chairman Gianni Paladini said: "It's a sad day.
"He was one of our brightest young talents and the way he went about his business was a credit to himself and his family."
Kiyan was found by an officer at 1535 BST, a short distance from the school in Stamford Court, on Kings Drive, a Scotland Yard spokesman said.
'Never forget'
Mr Hearne said: "Coming here to school this morning, I walked through school and talked to as many youngsters as I could and it is very, very quiet.
"This is a school community that's very exuberant... we've got children sitting in corners either in tears or comforting someone in tears."
He added that there were no gangs at the school and the attack had left pupils angry.
On Thursday evening, bunches of flowers were left outside the school with notes paying tribute to a "good and funny person".
One read: "I will miss you so, so much, I can't believe I have to say goodbye, you will always be in my heart and I will never forget you."
Forensic teams are examining the area where Kiyan was killed
Appealing for witnesses, Det Supt Simon Morgan said: "It was busy at that time and people have so far come forward but we would like to make sure that we have spoken to everyone."
Mr Hearne urged people to come forward, saying: "This 15-year-old local boy had everything going for him, either intellectually or sporting - nobody has a right to take away that life."
The killing comes a week before the Home Office is due to launch a national knife amnesty as part of a no-tolerance approach to those who carry knives on the streets.
Last December, Scotland Yard launched Operation Blunt in a bid to reduce knife crime in London.
A police spokesman said they have stepped up patrols in Edgware since the stabbing but he stressed that knife crime is not a problem in the borough of Barnet.
"On average there are only two knife-enabled crimes per week," he said.
London Mayor Ken Livingstone described the killing as senseless and said he will write to the Home Secretary and the Lord Chancellor to call for maximum sentences for all those who carry or use knives.
The London Academy - one of Prime Minister Tony Blair's flagship city academies - replaced Edgware School in September 2004, and has since received a glowing Ofsted report for delivering "exceptional" results.
Kiyan Prince, 15, described as "one for the future" by Queens Park Rangers, was attacked outside the London Academy in Edgware, north London, on Thursday.
Pupils and staff walked past floral tributes as they returned to the school on Friday.
Police, who have stepped up patrols in Edgware, said Kiyan was in an argument with 16-year-old boy who then ran off.
The school's principal Phil Hearne said Kiyan's family are "devastated" by his death.
Teachers saw Kiyan, who played as a striker for QPR's youth team, collapse and immediately contacted the police, who arrived within a minute, Mr Hearne said.
We've got children sitting in corners either in tears or comforting someone in tears
School principal Phil Hearne
Send us your comments
Head of youth at Championship club QPR Joe Gallen said: "It's a tragic loss to Queens Park Rangers Football Club, but more so to his family and friends.
"He was a great lad, a terrific prospect, and it's a huge setback for everyone that knew him.
"He was an intelligent, smart, good-looking young man with a very bright future in the game and he'll be sorely missed."
QPR chairman Gianni Paladini said: "It's a sad day.
"He was one of our brightest young talents and the way he went about his business was a credit to himself and his family."
Kiyan was found by an officer at 1535 BST, a short distance from the school in Stamford Court, on Kings Drive, a Scotland Yard spokesman said.
'Never forget'
Mr Hearne said: "Coming here to school this morning, I walked through school and talked to as many youngsters as I could and it is very, very quiet.
"This is a school community that's very exuberant... we've got children sitting in corners either in tears or comforting someone in tears."
He added that there were no gangs at the school and the attack had left pupils angry.
On Thursday evening, bunches of flowers were left outside the school with notes paying tribute to a "good and funny person".
One read: "I will miss you so, so much, I can't believe I have to say goodbye, you will always be in my heart and I will never forget you."
Forensic teams are examining the area where Kiyan was killed
Appealing for witnesses, Det Supt Simon Morgan said: "It was busy at that time and people have so far come forward but we would like to make sure that we have spoken to everyone."
Mr Hearne urged people to come forward, saying: "This 15-year-old local boy had everything going for him, either intellectually or sporting - nobody has a right to take away that life."
The killing comes a week before the Home Office is due to launch a national knife amnesty as part of a no-tolerance approach to those who carry knives on the streets.
Last December, Scotland Yard launched Operation Blunt in a bid to reduce knife crime in London.
A police spokesman said they have stepped up patrols in Edgware since the stabbing but he stressed that knife crime is not a problem in the borough of Barnet.
"On average there are only two knife-enabled crimes per week," he said.
London Mayor Ken Livingstone described the killing as senseless and said he will write to the Home Secretary and the Lord Chancellor to call for maximum sentences for all those who carry or use knives.
The London Academy - one of Prime Minister Tony Blair's flagship city academies - replaced Edgware School in September 2004, and has since received a glowing Ofsted report for delivering "exceptional" results.