The father of a boy who died after being stabbed in Chippenham has paid tribute to his son, describing him as ambitious, hardworking and full of life.
16-year-old Shayne Hambakachere, who went to Hardenhuish School, was found seriously injured in London Road on Saturday (31 January). He later died in hospital.
In a statement released through Wiltshire Police, his father, Emmanuel Hambakachere, shared a moving tribute remembering his son.
He said: “Shayne will be greatly missed, he had a great sense of humour and we will miss the way he laughed so loudly without any care in the world.
“He loved going to the gym to work out to stay fit and lean. He was good at sprinting and he was often chosen to compete for his school.
“Shayne was ambitious and driven, he was a hard worker with big dreams.
“There is a time when he worked two jobs just to make money to buy his heart’s desires without having to ask for money from family.
“He was also making money out of buying and reselling clothing and accessories online. With the money he made he bought himself a big TV for his bedroom and he had recently bought himself a Samsung s25 phone. He always used his money wisely and we admired that about him.
“At home he made sure he would do his chores on a daily basis, he always came home before his curfew and always communicated every time he left the house or came back. He was very helpful around the house and did whatever was asked of him without complaining.
“He was also very smart and tidy, he would not leave for school without making his bed. Shayne was a brave and bold young man, he was never afraid to speak his mind or to stand up for what he believed in.
“We are comforted to know that Shayne had a wonderful time on the 25th of December 2025 which we now realise was his very last Christmas.
“We had a buffet and played lots of games all night and Shayne won most of them and he enjoyed every minute of it. We are glad we got to share so many wonderful moments with him in the last couple of weeks.
“We would like to thank all the doctors and staff at Southmead hospital Bristol who tried their best to save Shayne’s life while providing wonderful care and support to us every step of the way.
“One of the doctors offered to drive all the way from Bristol to Chippenham at 1am to fetch Shayne’s sister so she could say goodbye to her brother. We want you to know that we were touched by your kindness and we will forever be grateful.”
Wiltshire Police said anyone wishing to pay tribute to Shayne is invited to leave flowers or dedications by the front gate of Hardenhuish School in Chippenham.
These tributes will be added to a tree within the school grounds, where Shayne attended, which has been dedicated to his memory.
People are asked to use the school as the focus for tributes rather than London Road.
Police have confirmed the incident remains subject to an ongoing investigation and have urged the public to refrain from speculation.
