Yahoo Finance Elvis Tacu: First picture of Romanian boy, 16, stabbed to death in west London as mother pays tribute
A mother has paid a heartbreaking tributes to a teenage boy stabbed to death in parkland after moving to London from Romania seeking a better life.
Ionut Elvis Tacu, 16, known as Elvis, was knifed repeatedly in Philpotts Farm Open Space, Yiewsley on Thursday, December 30.
Elvis’ death was the 30th teenage murder in London in 2021, making it the worst year for youth killings in the capital ever recorded.
His mother described him as “a lovely boy who wouldn’t hurt a fly.”
Mihaela, 38, who works as a hairdresser, told The Standard: “He was a wonderful boy, so gentle, kind and polite. He was lovely with people and would never hurt anyone.
“We are in total shock. I heard the police helicopter overhead and I had a feeling in my stomach something had happened to my son.
“Then the police knocked on our door. We are totally devastated. Elvis never carried a knife, we would never have imagined this could happen to our family.”
A schoolfriend at Park Academy West London said: “Elvis wouldn’t hurt a fly, he was so lovely. He wasn’t the sort of boy who ever looked for trouble, he was always laughing or trying to make other people laugh.”
A fundraiser to get his body repatriated to Romania for a Christian burial with his grandparents has raised more than £8,000.
Organiser and family friend Claudia Martonfi wrote: “Elvis was born in Romania and raised by his grandparents while his mum was working in the UK trying to provide him a better life.
“At age 7, Elvis come to the UK to live with his mum and dad, he was enjoying it, going to school and doing everything that children do.
“The family is devastated and no words are enough to comfort them, when most of us were getting ready to celebrate a New Year their world came apart with the news of losing their son.”
A PE teacher at Park Academy said: “Such heartbreaking news. Elvis was spirited, full of energy and a lot of fun to teach. May he get home to Romania safely.”
A 16-year-old boy appeared in custody at Ealing Youth Court on Tuesday charged with Elvis’ murder.
He was remanded in custody to next appear at the Old Bailey on Thursday.
A special post-mortem took place on Sunday giving his cause of death as multiple stab injuries.
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