A heart-breaking video shows a 16-year-old student who was killed in a “senseless” stabbing talk about how “innocent people are being killed”.

Rennell Charles, 16, was killed in the fatal stabbing on Markhouse Road, next to Kelmscott school in Walthamstow on Friday (May 5).

A video has now circulated online of Rennell discussing his experience at the Smiling Boys Project, a Newham and Hackney initiative set up to help young Black boys with their mental health and to address “rising levels of serious youth violence”.

Shared by founder Kay Rufai, Rennell said this generation is “not really the best generation”.

He said: “People are dying out here, people are getting hurt. Civilians being hurt innocent people being killed.

“And there’s young Black boys just like me and the other Black boys in this programme, they all need a chance, like we deserve a chance to show that not all Black boys are just those tough hard gangsters.

“No matter what they’ve been through we’ve always got a smile on our face no matter the situation.”

Discussing what he took away from the sessions, Rennell stated that he needs to open-up and “not hold everything in”.

The video continues: “Seeing and hearing there’s like other Black boys just like me out here going through the same things, and we still all manage to put a smile on our face and just make our mums proud make our families proud, make our parents proud, make some of our teachers proud and just doing what we want to do and just trying to make the best out of every situation possible.”

Rennell stated that it was important to confine with his friends about his mental health and anger before doing something “silly on the roads” adding that a situation could end up “kicking off” without being open with his emotions.

Founder Kai Rufai shared the video and said in his caption: “We must do better to create an environment for Black children, Black boys to feel safe, thrive and dare to wear a smile on their faces.”

Emergency services were called to the school road at 4.09pm to reports of a stabbing.

Despite their efforts, Renell died at the scene a short time later and his family continue to be supported by specialist officers.

A post-mortem examination found that the teenager had died from a stab wound to the chest.

Kelmscott School headteacher Sam Jones called it a “senseless knife attack” and said it is the “darkest days” for the student’s family and the Kelmscott community.

Metropolitan Police has said that a boy, 16, has been charged on Monday (May 8) with Renell’s murder.

Anyone with information or footage who has not yet spoken with police are encouraged to submit images or footage through the public portal mipp.police.uk or call the Major Incident Room directly on 020 8345 3715.

You can also Tweet @MetCC quoting CAD 4965/5MAY or remain anonymous through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.