A 15-year-old boy has been charged with murder after a boy described as ‘an amazing brother and son’ was stabbed to death just metres away from a primary school.
A teenager named locally as Reuben, 17, was killed outside a vape shop on Station Road in Marston Green, Solihull, on Tuesday.
Shop workers performed CPR on a teenage boy on the street who had been stabbed, witnesses said.
Emergency services found the ‘funny and kind’ teenager with life-threatening injuries, and we were unable to save him.
Now a 15-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been charged with the murder of a 17-year-old boy in Marston Green.
He was also charged with possession of a knife. He is due to appear before magistrates in Birmingham tomorrow.
Detective Inspector Michelle Cordell described it as a ‘significant development’ in the investigation while she continued to appeal for anyone with information to get in touch as the force tried to ‘establish what happened and why.’
A GoFundMe has been set up by charity A Common Bond, which supports families failed by children’s services and was set up by Reuben’s mother Sarah.
The charity said: ‘Reuben was polite, funny, very kind, an amazing brother and son.
‘Him and his mother were the best of friends. He was everything she could wish for and more.’
The GoFundMe message reads: ‘We are an organisation founded by Reuben’s mum, we know she spends her time working to support others and we would like to offer that support back to help with time off work her other children and towards funeral costs.
‘Please help us to support her after such a tragic loss.’
The attack happened just a few hundred yards away from a nursery and junior school, and the rest of the street is mainly residential with a row of shops and a petrol garage.
A member of staff at a nearby hairdresser told Metro members of the public’were trying to save him’ as he was ‘on the floor’ outside a vape shop.
‘They are heroes and so brave for trying to help him but it is so so sad.
‘It is so shocking the whole community doesn’t know what to think, it’s just awful,’ they said.
Osama Javaid, 24, who works as a delivery driver at a fast food shop on the road, said: ‘The shop was very busy when it happened. Someone came in and said the police were outside and someone had been stabbed.
‘I walked outside and the police and the ambulance were there, there were a lot of people around.
‘There was a teenager receiving CPR but he didn’t seem to be responding, he looked like he was asleep.
‘Then the emergency services moved everyone away. It wasn’t until later, about 10pm, that I found out he had died.
‘It was very upsetting and it took me a couple of hours to get myself together, it was shocking to see.’
Supt Wayne Carter, of Solihull Police, said previously: ‘We know people will understandably be concerned and we will be in the area conducting enquiries throughout the day.
‘We will have extra officers in the area over the coming days and I would encourage anyone with any information, or concerns, to get in touch.’
Officers are reviewing CCTV footage, making enquiries and appealing to any witnesses who haven’t spoken to come forward.
West Midlands Police said: ‘Our thoughts remain firmly with the victim’s family and loved ones at this truly tragic time.’
