‘Kind’ schoolboy, 12, was ‘minutes from safety’ when he was stabbed to death – as parents share heartbreaking pictures
TRAGIC Leo Ross was “minutes from safety” when he was fatally stabbed, his adoptive family revealed.
The 12-year-old was found with a stab wound to the stomach on the banks of the River Cole in Hall Green, Birmingham, on January 21.
Ishtiaq Shah, whose partner Janet was the boys legal guardian, paid a heartbreaking tribute.
Today he said the family had “another difficult and haunting night” as they came to terms with Leo‘s death.
Leo was remembered as a “kind, bright and talented boy” and images of the child were shared online.
Heartbreaking photos show Leo celebrating a birthday, in his school uniform and enjoying a pedalo ride.
Ishtiaq said: “We desperately want Leo to come home from school, he was just minutes away from safety, but we know he never will.
“He was a big brother to our two young children, so patient and loving to them.
“They were/are obsessed with him and will miss him.”
Ishtiaq launched a fundraising campaign to raise money for the Daniel Baird Foundation, an anti-knife charity.
He added: “It was lovely to see the notifications received during the night of how many more of you that have donated.
“We are extremely grateful that you share our determination to prevent this from happening again.
“If we can help deter one child from carrying a knife, if we can train one person, if we can stop one bleed and save one person from such a fatality, we will feel our little genius Leo made that happen, his death will have saved a life.”
Almost £6,000 has been raised for the charity, which provides products to help stem bleeding from stab wounds.
On the day of Leo’s murder, officers responded to calls from an area near Scribers Lane in Hall Green at around 3.15pm.
Leo was understood to have been walking home from school when he was attacked.
Paramedics rushed the youngster to hospital where he was tragically pronounced dead a short while later.
Cops were seen searching a home in connection with Leo’s murder in Birmingham’s Hall Green neighbourhood.
Officers investigating Leo’s death revealed have been granted extra time to question a 14-year-old boy, who was arrested on the night of January 21.
Leo attended Christ Church C of E Secondary Academy where pals said he was “adored” and always a “hard worker”.
Horrified parents have been briefed by teachers that the murder suspect was not a pupil.
Across the road from the school a bright graffiti artwork was left spelling out “Leo” in memory of the lad.
It added: “Drop a knife, save a life.”
Officers investigating the death were seen searching grass verges for evidence on January 23.
West Midlands Police officers were seen examining shrubbery along Scribers Lane with wooden sticks.
Meanwhile officers began a thorough search of the nearby Shire Country Park.
A woman laying flowers described the attack, which saw Leo knifed in the stomach, said: “It’s awful, tragic really.
“I think it’s an area where there can be issues but nothing like this. It’s a quiet area.
“It’s just happening time and time again. They need to do something.
“I think this Starmer rubbish about stopping anyone going on Amazon and buying a knife, anyone can get hold of a knife. It’s not about that.
“My son is 16 now and the thought of him going into Birmingham, is just not on. It’s getting worse than London.”
Meanwhile a tearful grandmother said: “It’s just heartbreaking. My grandson goes to the same school.
“It’s just heartbreaking that a parent can send their child to school in the morning, it could be any of our children or grandchildren, and then they not come back.
“There’s a child, a life to live, that’s wasted. I was at work and saw the helicopter.
“They’re doing a memorial mass and Yardley Wood social have said that they’re going to have something going where they’re collecting money for the little boys family.
“It’s a lovely cut through to get home quick, but it’s not always safe.
“You should know what your child is doing.”
One note left at the scene by a friend of Leo’s read: “Thanks for being a great friend to me. I’ll miss you forever. Love Jack P.”
While another friend wrote: “To Leo, I’m really upset this happened to you and you haven’t gotten to live your life.
“I’ll always remember you from primary and secondary and I’m grateful that I got to speak to you for the last time only shortly before the boy took your life.
“I really hope your little sister is ok because you was the most important person in her life and you should never have gotten hurt and killed without any reason.
“We will always miss you and remember you.
“Rest in peace Leo.”
It comes after multiple attacks on three pensioners that occurred on 19, 20 and 21 January shortly before Leo was targeted.
Cops continued to question a 14-year-old boy over the murder and previous assaults.
West Midlands Police said: “The victims of the assaults are aged in their 70s and 80s and we are asking for any information which could help in our enquiries.
“The suspect was initially arrested on suspicion of the January 19 assault and then while in custody he was arrested on suspicion of murder and then later the two further assaults.”