‘Lovely’ boy, 12, stabbed to death in Birmingham named as Leo Ross | News UK

A 12-year-old stabbed to death in a ‘shocking and senseless attack’ as he walked home from school in Birmingham has been named and pictured.

Leo Ross was found with serious injuries near Scribers Lane in Hall Green, Birmingham, at around 3.15pm on Tuesday.

He was pronounced dead shortly after arrival at a nearby hospital at 7.30pm. A 14-year-old has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

The teenager is also being held in connection with an assault on a woman in her 80s in the same area of ​​the city on Sunday, West Midlands Police said later.

Leo’s family described him as ‘the most beautiful, friendly child’ and ‘the nicest child you would meet’ who ‘didn’t have an aggressive bone in his body’, in a statement to BBC News.

A relative, who asked not to be named, told the Daily Mail: ‘He was a really good boy, a really sweet boy, cheerful, not a bad bone in his body. He is a golden child.’

His school, Christ Church, Church of England Secondary Academy in Yardley Wood, has also paid tribute.

Executive Headteacher Diane Henson described his death as a tragedy.

She said this afternoon: ‘Leo was a lively and happy young man.

‘He had many very good friends whom he absolutely adored and they adored him.

‘He was just a lovely and bright member of the school community.

‘We support the children at school and open a condolence book with the family’s permission.

‘Our thoughts go out to Leo’s family and all his friends today.’

A statement on the school’s website said: ‘Our condolences and deepest sympathies go out to the family and friends of one of our CCSA students.

‘This is a very sad time for our school community and we are focused on supporting our students, staff and families with professional support.’

Chief Superintendent Richard North said: ‘This is an appalling and senseless attack.

‘We are doing everything we can to support the loved ones of the young boy who lost his life in such a horrific way, but we know that nothing we say or do will ease their pain.

‘Parents around the country will hear this news and be unable to understand the pain they must be feeling.

“Our hearts go out to the young boy’s family today. We will be carrying out calming patrols locally and if anyone in the community has any information or concerns we would urge them to come forward.

‘We continue to work day in and day out with parents, schools, carers and other partners to educate young people about knife crime and its devastating consequences.

‘This work must and will continue. Today our focus is on the family of the young boy who lost his life in such a tragic way and on ensuring that we get justice for him and his family.’

The 12-year-old is believed to have been attacked near a railway bridge over Scribers Lane, which runs alongside Trittiford Mill Park.

A resident was made aware of the stabbing when someone knocked on her door and asked for the zip code so they could direct emergency services to the area.

The woman, who asked not to be named, said: ‘Agentleman came and asked for the postcode as someone had been injured. He just came and knocked on the door.

‘We had two police cars and then a helicopter. I found out someone had been stabbed last night but it wasn’t until this morning that I realized the poor little soul was dead.’

West Midlands Police said in a statement: ‘We continue to appeal for any information that may assist in our investigation.

“We have set up our Major Incident Public Portal (MIPP) where members of the public can submit photo or video evidence.”

Detective Inspector Joe Davenport, from West Midlands Police’s major crime unit, said: ‘We are urgently reviewing CCTV and speaking to witnesses as we work to understand what happened and why and who was responsible.

‘If you were in the area at the time and saw what happened, or think you may have caught part of what happened on a dashcam or mobile phone, it’s important you get in touch as soon as possible.’

The fatal stabbing happened on the day MPs were told after the Southport killings that a ban on the sale of knives to under-18s has not proved effective.

Selling knives with a fixed blade more than three inches long to under-18s is illegal in England and Wales, and retailers face fines or prosecution if they break the law.

But Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has revealed that Southport killer Axel Rudakubana was ‘easily able to order a knife on Amazon’ when he was still 17-years-old and had a conviction for violence.

She told MPs: ‘It’s a total disgrace and it needs to change. So we will introduce stronger measures to tackle online knife sales in the Crime and Policing Act this spring.’

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