BBC Information, West Midlands
HouseholdA classmate of a 12-year-old boy who was stabbed to loss of life in Birmingham has described him as sort, useful and welcoming as tributes proceed.
Leo Ross was discovered close to Scribers Lane within the Corridor Inexperienced space of town at about 15:40 GMT on Tuesday. He had been stabbed within the abdomen and died in hospital a couple of hours later.
A 14-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of homicide. Police mentioned he was additionally suspected of involvement in an unrelated assault on a girl in her 80s on 19 January, and had been detained over that matter too.
Hana, who was in the identical class as Leo at Christ Church C of E Secondary Academy, mentioned of his passing: “I believe it is actually unhappy and ridiculous that this has occurred.”
Remembering her classmate on BBC Radio WM, she added: “[He would] simply do his work and get on with it and [he was] useful as properly and really welcoming. It is upsetting that he is handed away.”
Hana’s mom Saima mentioned his loss of life was “devastating” and known as for “one thing to be executed” about knife crime.
“I can not think about what the dad and mom are going by way of,” she added.
“It’s extremely scary since you ship your baby to high school within the morning and would not ever suppose they will not ever come again. That thought may be very devastating and scary.”
Talking to BBC Midlands Right now, one lady mentioned her kids described Leo as a “beautiful, caring, harmless little boy” who didn’t deserve what occurred to him.
“He was within the improper place on the improper time,” she added.
PALeo’s household mentioned he had been strolling a 10-minute route residence when the assault occurred and described him on Wednesday as “humorous, candy and had not one aggressive bone in his physique”.
Flowers and messages have been left on the scene on Scribers Lane.
Diane Henson, chief govt of Leo’s faculty in Yardley Wooden, Birmingham, has described him as a “beautiful and vivid member of the varsity group”, including he had many mates who adored him.
West Midlands Police has mentioned officers will likely be finishing up patrols regionally to attempt to reassure residents.
Within the final six months there have been a number of high-profile knife crime instances involving younger individuals within the West Midlands.
In June 2024, two 12-year-old boys have been discovered responsible of murdering Shawn Seesahai with a machete in Wolverhampton.
In November 2024, a 15-year-old boy was charged with homicide after a 17-year-old boy was stabbed in Marston Inexperienced.
A 15-year-old boy was charged with tried homicide on 5 January, following the stabbing of a 14-year-old boy in Oldbury.
‘Not remotely complacent’
Simon Foster, West Midlands police and crime commissioner, mentioned youth violence and knife crime have been being tackled by way of “sturdy policing” and funding in prevention, together with training programmes at faculties.
He mentioned there had been a discount in associated offences within the area, which he described as “welcome”.
“However I’m not, and neither is West Midlands Police, remotely complacent about that. One sufferer of youth violence and knife crime is one too many,” he advised BBC Radio WM.
“We completely, all of us collectively as a area, need to decide to that fixed and unremitting motion to forestall and deal with youth violence and knife crime to guard our younger individuals and our weak [people] to avoid wasting lives.”
