A 13 year old boy has been stabbed to death in Oldbury, West Midlands Police have confirmed.
Oldbury: Police at the scene of Lovett Avenue stabbing
A murder investigation has been launched after a 13-year-old boy was stabbed to death on an estate in a West Midlands town.
Lovett Avenue, Oldbury, remains taped off by police after they first rushed to the Lion Farm estate last night.
Detective Superintendent Shaun Edwards of West Midlands Police told Birmingham Live: “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.”
Police were called to the incident at around 4pm and despite the best efforts of paramedics and trauma specialists, the boy was pronounced dead at the scene. Forensic specialists have been seen entering the property which remains cordoned off and protected by police officers.
Labour MP for Smethwick Gurinder Singh Josan CBE said: “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.”
He praised the response of emergency services and reiterated Police appeals for anybody with information to come forward.
Local residents expressed their shock at the killing with one telling Sky News: “It’s a child, it’s a life. A life is worth something, I don’t know how the family must be feeling.”
Many have taken to social media. Birmingham Live reader Sammy Kendrick wrote on Facebook: “Heartbreaking. Something needs to be done about knife crime. Our kids aren’t safe anymore.
RIP sweetheart – so young. Such a cruel world. Thoughts go out to all your family.”
Agreeing, Rachel George said: “This knife crime epidemic needs addressing urgently. There are stabbings every day. This is so sad – and really scary.”
West Midlands Police have released a statement asking anyone with information to get in touch via Live Chat or 101, quoting log 3204 of 29/8/24. Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
MP statement in full
Mp for Smethwick Gurinder Singh Josan CBE has thanked emergency responders and reiterated appeals for informaiton.
Local MP sends “prayers and condolences”
Member of Parliament for Smethwick Gurinder Singh Josan CBE said: “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.”
Tributes paid outside house of murdered teenager
Locals tell ITV News reporter Hannah Ludlow that “nothing like this has happened in over 30 years.”
Tributes paid to murdered child
One local told Sky News: It’s a child, it’s a life. A life is worth something, I don’t know how the family must be feeling.”
Many have taken to social media. Birmingham Live reader Sammy Kendrick wrote on Facebook: “Heartbreaking. Something needs to be done about knife crime. Our kids aren’t safe anymore.
RIP sweetheart – so young. Such a cruel world. Thoughts go out to all your family.”
Agreeing, Rachel George said: “This knife crime epidemic needs addressing urgently. There are stabbings every day. This is so sad – and really scary.”
New pictures from the scene
New pictures show police stationed outside a house outside Lovett Avenue.
Police on Lovett Avenue, Oldbury (Image: SWNS)
West Midlands Police statement in full
We have launched a murder investigation after a teenager was fatally stabbed at an address in Oldbury.
We were called to a property on Lovett Avenue at around 4pm yesterday (29 August) by the ambulance service.
The 13-year-old was treated by paramedics, however, despite their best efforts the boy sadly passed away.
We have a team of detectives investigating exactly what happened during this tragic incident; and we’re following active lines of enquiry to identify who was involved.
Detective Superintendent Shaun Edwards, from the force’s Homicide Team, 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.”
Anyone with information has been asked to get in touch via Live Chat or 101, quoting log 3204 of 29/8/24.
Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
What we know so far
A murder investigation has been launched after a 13 year old boy was stabbed to death yesterday.
Despite the efforts of trauma and critical care specialists, the boy sadly died at the scene.
Det Supt Shaun Edwards of West Midlands Police has vowed to “find whoever is responsible” after the 13-year-old was fatally stabbed at an address in Lovett Avenue.
He 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.”
Residents of the area which is described as “usually ok” have said that a corden remained in place late into the night.
Police appeal for information
West Midlands Police have released a statement asking anyone with information to get in touch via Live Chat or 101, quoting log 3204 of 29/8/24.
Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Area is “usually ok”
A woman who lives in the area has told the Birmingham Live that the area, which she has lived in for eight years, is “usually ok”.
The woman said she returned home yesterday at around 4pm to find her street sealed off.
She said that ambulances had left the scene by 5pm and police cordon remained in place when she went to bed at 10pm.
BREAKING: Boy was pronounced dead at the scene
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.”
Detective vows to find ‘whoever is responsible’
Det Supt Shaun Edwards of West Midlands Police has vowed to “find whoever is responsible” after a 13 year old boy was stabbed to death on Lovett Avenue, Oldbury.
He said: “It is absolutely tragic that 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.”
Local people describe the scene
A local told BirminghamLive that emergency services had rushed to the scene. She said she saw “many police cars” as well as paramedics and a police helicopter.
Another concerned 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.”
A third added: “I just went past on bus and it’s cordoned off – a house taped off too. Lots of people on the street and about five police cars.”
Where is the scene?
Lovett Avenue is currently cordoned off by police.
It’s on the Lion Farm estate in Oldbury.
Take a look in our interactive map below.
What do we know so far?
A schoolboy aged just 13 has died after he was stabbed at a home on Lovett Avenue, Oldbury on Thursday night.
Police remain at the scene this morning after first being called at around 4pm.
The teenager was treated by paramedics but sadly died a short while later at the scene.
