Police detectives have launched an urgent manhunt after a 13-year-old boy was stabbed to death in an ‘absolutely tragic’ attack at his home 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.
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.
At a press conference at 4.30pm today, more than 24 hours after the attack, Chief Superintendent Kim Madill said the attack took place inside the boy’s home and they were hunting multiple suspects.
She vowed to ‘work with the community’ to find the culprit and announced the creation of an online portal where people could send the police information.
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.
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.
‘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.
‘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.
Smethwick MP Gurinder Singh Josan said in a statement on X: ‘I have been shocked to hear of the tragic stabbing of a young 13-year-old boy at a house in Lovett Road, Lion Farm, Oldbury yesterday evening resulting in his death.
‘This is a tragic waste of a young life and my thoughts, prayers and condolences are with the family and friends of the young boy.
‘I want to thank the prompt response of the West Midlands Ambulance Service paramedics who administered advanced trauma care at the scene, but unfortunately and despite their best efforts, could not save the young boy.
‘I have been in touch with Sandwell Police and, whilst we do not yet know the full circumstances, the police have launched a murder investigation and are working flat out to bring whoever is responsible into custody as soon as possible.’
Caroline Reid, a Dudley councillor who lives in the area, said the situation was ‘heartbreaking’ and she felt compelled to bring flowers to the scene.
Her own brother was killed in 1998 and said every time she hears of an alleged murder, it brings the pain back.
She said: ‘I came here to pay my respects and put flowers down. Every time there is an incident like this, I’ve lived this myself and even though it was 26 years ago, it still feels like yesterday and you relive it.
‘I’m not here for me, I’m here as a parent and a neighbour to pay respects. No one will understand what it is like unless you have walked those steps and been through it yourself. There are no words. The grief is awful.
‘This is someone who has lost a child. His poor mother, a part of her has gone.
‘When you have lost someone like this, it is totally different to losing someone to illness. This is when you really know what loss is. When you lose a child, you feel their pain.
‘It is just so sad.’
Ms Reid said the level of knife crime in the West Midlands was ‘awful’.
She said: ‘It is so high – it’s boredom, there’s nothing for people to do, it’s the cost-of-living crisis. I felt it was my duty to come here and pay my respects.’
Malachi Nunes, a youth mentor in Sandwell at Ambitious Lives, also visited the scene and said he knows of the family involved.
He said: ‘Nobody knows exactly what has happened. You get a lot of things like this round here. It’s just terrible.’
Superintendent Kim Madill said this afternoon: ‘This is a truly sad and tragic incident where a young boy has lost his life.
‘First and foremost our thought and the thoughts of those investigating the death of this young boy remain firmly with the family and the loved ones.
‘I know this will have also have had an impact on the wider community who will be shocked and concerned about what has happened.
‘I am grateful to our officers who attended the address and supported the paramedics as they worked in vain to try and save his young life.
‘I’m here to let the family and the wider community know that we will work with you and support you as we seek to find who is responsible for the death of this young boy.
‘We have a team of detectives investigating what happened and we are following active lines of enquiry to find the suspects.
‘We know the incident took place inside his home and I would appeal for anyone who has information to come forward.
‘We have local officers and youth workers in the area so please speak to them in the coming days if you have any concerns or information you would like to pass to us.
‘My personal ask today is if you have any information at all, no matter how small, then please send it in.
‘This includes CCTV, Ring doorbell footage and you can send that directly to us on the West Midlands Police website.’
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.
‘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.