Police detectives have launched an urgent manhunt after a 13-year-old boy was stabbed to death in an ‘absolutely tragic’ attack at a house in Birmingham.
Paramedics called the police to a home in the Oldbury area at 4pm yesterday after the boy was fatally knifed.
He received treatment from the paramedics at the scene but police say ‘despite their best efforts the boy sadly passed away’.
The Detective Superintendent of West Midlands Police has vowed to track down ‘whoever is responsible’ for the horror attack which he branded ‘absolutely tragic’.
Pictures from the scene of the crime on Lovett Avenue last night showed police cars and officers standing guard around the scene as the investigation got underway.
Pictures from the scene of the crime last night in the Oldbury area of Birmingham showed police cars and officers standing guard around the scene as the investigation gets underway
Pictures showing the scene of the crime this morning show police officers have remained on guard at the house throughout the night
By 12pm dozens of bouquets of flowers had been placed at the front door by family and friends
A officer dressed in white forensic overalls outside of the front door with what appeared to be a camera
Officers cordoned off the road and the house where residents saw camera flashes coming from inside the property as forensic officers examined the evidence.
West Midlands Police say they have a team of detectives investigating exactly what happened during this ‘tragic incident’ and they are ‘following active lines of enquiry’ to identify who was involved.
Weeping friends arrived throughout the morning to lay floral tributes at the scene of the stabbing.
Several visitors who visited the scene on Friday afternoon lit candles in tribute to the young victim.
At one point a woman’s wails could be heard coming from the rear garden.
Downstairs blinds were drawn at the murder scene house which was still taped off by police the morning after the attack.
The semi-detached property with a neatly mowed lawn saw a succession of heartbroken friends of the victim arrive to pay their respects.
West Midlands Police say they have a team of detectives investigating exactly what happened during this ‘tragic incident’ and they are ‘following active lines of enquiry’ to identify who was involved
Officers were seen with what appeared to be wooden sticks as they carried out the investigation
Bouquets of flowers started to arrive outside of the front door of the house this morning
Before long more bouquets, with their plastic off, had been placed at the front door of the house
Residents today spoke of their shock following the fatal stabbing of the boy as floral tributes were left on his doorstep.
Lance, aged 58, said: ‘I’ve lived around here for seven years, It’s a quiet street, friendly area – a working class community.
‘Everyone looks out for each other, If we don’t hear from each other we enquire.
‘I don’t know them personally, but never had any problems with them.
‘I only heard what had happened when It came on the news. It’s horrible – it makes you wonder who else is carrying knives on them.’
Another local, who would only give her first name Anna, added: ‘My husband called me when he pulled in, asking if I knew what was going on.
‘We see ambulances here sometimes, I think because there’s an elderly population – but that many police is not usual.
‘I didn’t know the family well but we would say hello to each other as neighbours do.
‘I never knew of any trouble from them, they were an ordinary family in our community, I know them as good people.
The semi-detached property with a neatly mowed lawn saw a succession of heartbroken friends of the victim arrive to pay their respects
The scene of the crime was Lovett Avenue in the Oldbury area of Birmingham
‘I have always felt very safe here, we’re close-knit so it’s all very shocking to see this happening.’
A woman who lives near the scene, and did not want to be named, added ‘I read the news this morning, it’s horrifying.
‘You read about these things but when it happened on your doorstep it’s just shocking.
‘People say the area is rough, but where isn’t? I’ve lived here for 50 years and it’s been okay. But everywhere has its problems.’
Neighbours described how they were awoken by the sounds of a police helicopter hovering overhead during the night.
A local told BirminghamLive that emergency services they saw ‘many police cars’ as well as paramedics and a helicopter at the scene.
One woman who has lived in the area for eight years told the website it was ‘usually ok’. She said she returned home at 4pm yesterday to find the street sealed off, with the ambulances leaving at 5pm.
Another resident wrote on Facebook last night: ‘Police have been knocking on doors asking if anyone heard anything over the past two hours. They said [it was] a serious incident but couldn’t give details.’
Darius Rayman, a youth worker for Sandwell Council, was at the scene on Friday morning. He told the BBC: ‘I think it’s really sad that somebody’s 13-year-old has passed away.’
‘He hasn’t even lived up to his teenage years.’
Mr Rayman said he felt more needed to be done about knife crime by the government, adding: ‘Do we need to go back to the drawing board? How, and why, is this happening to young people in this area?’
One local resident, who gave his name as Levi, arrived with a floral tribute for the victim. He told Mail Online: ‘This is so concerning, I have three boys myself.
‘One of them is the same age as the poor boy who was killed, 13 years old. My son would see him in the street but didn’t know him.
Police officers were seen leaving the house with blue gloves on as they investigated
The house remained cordoned off throughout the morning
‘I have lived in this community for 19 years. It used to have a reputation for violence and gun crime.
‘But now the boys carry knives. I think possession of knives in public should carry an automatic prison sentence.
‘Children are dying from knives – it is so worrying as a parent.’
Pictures showing the scene of the crime this morning show police officers have remained on guard at the house throughout the night.
One image taken this morning showed an officer outside of the front door dressed in white forensic overalls with what appeared to be a camera, alongside a bouquet of flowers which had been placed outside of the front door.
Detective Superintendent Shaun Edwards said: ‘It’s absolutely tragic a young life has been lost.
‘We have specialist officers who will be supporting the family of the boy.
Pictures showing the scene of the crime this morning show police officers have remained on guard at the house
Officers cordoned off the road last night where residents saw camera flashes coming from inside the property as forensic officers examined the evidence
‘We have detectives working flat out to find whoever is responsible and bring them into custody as soon as possible.’
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesperson said: ‘We were called to a stabbing at a private address on Lovett Avenue just after 4pm on Thursday.
‘One ambulance, two paramedic officers, the WMAS Critical Care Car, a MERIT trauma doctor and critical care paramedic and a BASICS emergency doctor attended the scene.
‘Upon arrival we found a teenage boy with life threatening injuries.
‘Ambulance staff administered advanced trauma care at the scene but unfortunately, despite their best efforts nothing more could be done to save him and he was confirmed deceased at the scene.’
Anyone with information has been asked to get in touch via Live Chat or 101, quoting log 3204 of 29/8/24.
Or alternatively, people can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
