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Boy, 14, is charged with homicide of 12-year-old schoolboy Leo Ross as his household say: ‘Not solely has his life been taken, all of our lives have as effectively’

A 14-year-old boy has been charged with the murder of 12-year-old schoolboy Leo Ross, who was stabbed in the stomach in a country park.

West Midlands Police arrested the youth, who cannot be named because of his age, on Tuesday, around four hours after Leo suffered fatal injuries on the riverside path in the Hall Green area of Birmingham.

Police said the teenager had been charged with murder, six counts of assault and possession of bladed article.

In an emotional statement, Leo’s heartbroken family paid tribute to a boy who ‘was loved so much by everyone’.

They said: ‘We want everyone to know what an amazing, kind, loving boy Leo was.

‘Not only has Leo’s life been taken, all of our lives have as well.

Tragic schoolboy Leo Ross (pictured) suffered fatal injuries on a riverside path in the Hall Green area

Tragic schoolboy Leo Ross (pictured) suffered fatal injuries on a riverside path in the Hall Green area

The 12-year-old was killed after being attacked in broad daylight while making his way home from school on Tuesday afternoon.

The 12-year-old was killed after being attacked in broad daylight while making his way home from school on Tuesday afternoon.

‘Leo will be truly missed by all of us. He was loved so much by everyone.

‘The family want to thank the school, the police and everyone involved in the investigation and supporting us all through this horrific time.’

Leo, a pupil at the Christ Church, Church of England Secondary Academy in Yardley Wood, is believed to have been making his way home from school when he was stabbed.

Members of the public came to his aid and summoned the emergency services, but he died in hospital at about 7.30pm.

In a statement from West Midlands Police, the force said: ‘We have charged a 14-year-old boy with the murder of Leo Ross, who died after being stabbed in Hall Green on Tuesday.

‘The boy, who can’t be named for legal reasons, has been remanded into custody to appear at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on Monday having been charged this afternoon with Leo’s murder and possession of a bladed article.

‘As a result of a thorough investigation and review of all available evidence, we have also charged the 14-year-old boy with six additional assaults, none of which involved the use of a knife.’

In a tribute released on Wednesday, Diane Henson, executive headteacher at Leo’s school, Christ Church C of E Secondary Academy, described his death as a tragedy.

People lay flowers at the scene near Scribers Lane in the Hall Green area of Birmingham where Leo Ross was stabbed

People lay flowers at the scene near Scribers Lane in the Hall Green area of Birmingham where Leo Ross was stabbed

A mural on Ravenshill Road for Leo Ross, close to the riverside path where he died from his injuries

A mural on Ravenshill Road for Leo Ross, close to the riverside path where he died from his injuries

She said: ‘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.’ 

Ishtiaq Shah, whose partner’s mother Janet was Leo’s legal guardian, paid a further tribute last night.

Today he said the family had ‘another difficult and haunting night’ as they came to terms with his death.

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.’

Chief Superintendent Richard North speaking to the media at the scene near Scribers Lane in the Hall Green area of Birmingham where Leo was stabbed on Tuesday afternoon

Chief Superintendent Richard North speaking to the media at the scene near Scribers Lane in the Hall Green area of Birmingham where Leo was stabbed on Tuesday afternoon

Ishtiaq launched a 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.’

So far almost £6,000 has been raised for the charity, which provides products to help stem bleeding from stab wounds.

A GoFundMe has also been set up to raise money for the funeral of Leo and help support his family.

Kyle Hotchkins, 38, from Evesham, Worcs, who set up the page, which has raised £4,700 so far, said: ‘I just wanted to do what I could to help the family pay for a funeral which he deserves.

‘The whole community has been devastated by it and my heart goes out to them. So I wanted to do whatever I could to support them.

‘Whatever money is left over will go towards a trust fund to help his family and his little sister.’