Boy, 13, stabbed to death in the West Midlands (2024)

A 13-year-old boy whose fatal stabbing near Birmingham has sparked a murder investigation died inside his own home, police have said.

The boy, who has not been named, died inside a house on Lovett Avenue in Oldbury on Thursday afternoon despite receiving treatment on the scene by paramedics.

In a statement outside West Bromwich Police Station on Friday afternoon, Chief Superintendent Kim Madill, of West Midlands Police, issued a plea for information as detectives continue their investigation.

No arrests have been made, but the Sandwell police commander said “active lines of inquiry” are being followed to find the suspect.

She said: “This is truly sad and tragic incident where a young boy has lost his life.

“First and foremost, my thoughts, and the thoughts of all those involved in investigating the death of this young boy, remain firmly with the family and the loved ones.

“I know this will also have had a huge impact on the wider community who will be shocked and concerned about what has happened.

“I’m grateful to our officers who attended the address and supported the paramedics as they worked in vain to try and save his 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 exactly what happened and we are following active lines of inquiry to find the suspect.

“We know the incident took place inside his home and I would appeal to anyone who has information to come forward.

“We have local officers and youth workers in the area over the coming days, so please speak to them directly if you have concerns or any information you would like to pass to us.

“We have created an online portal for people to send us information as we build our investigation and my personal ask today is if you have any information at all, no matter how small, then please send it in.”

Dozens of bunches of flowers, candles and teddies have been brought to the semi-detached home, with an officer standing at the cordon placing them outside the front door of the property.

A spokesperson for the ambulance service said earlier on Friday: “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.”

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 circ*mstances, 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 and brought flowers to the scene, said the situation was “heartbreaking”.

“I came here to pay my respects and put flowers down,” said the councillor, whose own brother was killed in 1998. “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”, adding “It is so high – it’s boredom, there’s nothing for people to do, it’s the cost-of-living crisis.”

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.”

West Midlands Police have advised anyone who may have information relating to the “tragic incident” to contact them via Live Chat or 101, quoting log 3204 of 29 August, 2024, or to contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.