Boy, 12, stabbed to death in Birmingham named - after 14-year-old arrested on suspicion of murder

A 12-year-old boy who was fatally stabbed in Birmingham on Tuesday has been named by police as Leo Ross.

A 14-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder following the fatal stabbing in the Hall Green area of the city.

Police were called to the incident near Scribers Lane at about 3.40pm on Tuesday to reports of a 12-year-old boy who had been stabbed in the stomach.

Paramedics at the scene treated Leo, who was found by a member of the public, and he was taken to hospital but died hours later at about 7.30pm.

West Midlands Police said in a statement that Leo was a pupil at Christ Church C of E Secondary Academy.

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 who he absolutely adored, and they adored him.

"He was just a lovely and bright member of the school community. We're supporting the children at school and are opening a book of condolence with the family's permission.

"Our thoughts are with Leo's family and all his friends today."

A spokesman for the force said Leo's family and school are now asking for their privacy to be respected.

The 14-year-old was arrested at 7pm on Tuesday at an address in Birmingham.

He remains in custody and police inquiries are continuing.

Chief superintendent Richard North, commander of Birmingham Local Policing Area, said in an update on Wednesday that the same teenager was also arrested in connection with an assault on a woman in her 80s on Sunday, in what he called an "unrelated matter".

Mr North described the attack as an "absolutely appalling incident" and said detectives were "working round the clock" to get to the truth of what happened.

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The victim's family have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.

Police have called for anyone who may know something about the incident to come forward and assist with inquiries.

A Major Incident Public Portal (MIPP), where members of the public can submit photos or video evidence, has been set up and can be reached at mipp.police.uk, the force added.

It comes a day after Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said tougher measures would be introduced to tackle knife sales online after she revealed that Southport killer Axel Rudakubana was "easily able to order a knife on Amazon" when he was still aged 17 and had been convicted over violence.

She told MPs: "That's a total disgrace and it must change. So, we will bring in stronger measures to tackle knife sales online in the Crime and Policing Bill this spring."

The sale of knives with a fixed blade of more than three inches long to under-18s is illegal in England and Wales.

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