The foster family of 12-year-old knife victim Leo Ross have paid tribute to a ‘kind, bright and talented boy’ after he was killed in a Birmingham park.
Leo was found by a member of the public with a stab wound to the stomach on the banks of the River Cole in the Hall Green area of Birmingham at around 3.40pm on Tuesday.
He was treated at the scene but died at around 7.30pm.
Police arrested a 14-year-old boy that evening, who they are continuing to question on suspicion of murder, as well as three assaults in recent days of elderly people in their 70s and 80s.
The last of the three assaults took place just minutes before the alleged murder.
A fundraiser has now been started by the foster family of the schoolboy, who were said to have cared for him for the past seven years.
The family are raising money for a anti knife crime charity, The Daniel Baird Foundation, named after a man who was stabbed to death in the city in 2017.
The GoFundMe page, written by relative Ishtiaq Shah, said Leo had been with his foster family for seven years, adding that the family ‘devastated’ by his loss.
Leo Ross, 12, died after being stabbed in the stomach in the Hall Green area of Birmingham on Tuesday
Leo (pictured) was found by a member of the public with a stab wound to the stomach on the banks of the River Cole in the Hall Green area of Birmingham at around 3.40pm on Tuesday
A police officer at the scene on Scribers Lane in the Hall Green area of Birmingham on Wednesday where Leo was stabbed
The page said: ‘I am the partner of Janet’s daughter, Janet was Leo’s guardian and loved him like her own.
‘Leo Ross was in Janet’s care for 7 years until he was taken from us on Tuesday 21st of January, and I have personally known Leo since the first day he came 7 years ago.
‘We are all devastated with losing such a kind, bright and talented boy and although we can’t think past the recent dreadful incident, we have decided to create an official fundraiser for those that want to give their love and support.
‘As we do not want the money nor be beneficiaries, we have all agreed that a worthy charity would be The Daniel Baird Foundation run by Daniel’s mother Lynne and any funds will go straight to the charity and not pass any hands.’
The fundraiser quickly raised nearly £3,000 and was accompanied by a picture of Leo feeding a bird.
In a separate tribute on social media posted by Mr Shah, which featured a picture of a school blazer hanging on the back of an empty chair, he spoke of the love Leo had been shown by his foster mother.
‘Leo was with you for 7 years, from when he was just a few years old. You gave him love, warmth, comfort and security,’ it said.
‘He was kind, caring, courteous and conscientious, I can honestly say he got that from you. You helped him with his homework and pushed him when he was behind, moulding him into a bright and intelligent boy.’
On Wednesday, bosses at Christ Church Secondary Academy (pictured), where Leo was a pupil, told parents that the alleged assailant had never been a student of theirs
A forensics officer works at the scene near Scribers Lane in the Hall Green area of Birmingham
Dozens of bouquets were laid at the scene by Wednesday evening
Devastated school friends left flowers and handwritten notes for Leo
Tributes named Leo Ross as the victim of the attack as dozens of bouquets were laid
It continued: ‘I’m glad he had you to care for him, I’m glad he experienced a mother’s love.
‘I’m sorry for the pain you’re feeling. I can’t say it will get easier but we will be beside you at every moment.’
There were also tributes to Leo on Thursday night from the owner of Birmingham City ahead of the club’s crunch fixture against Wrexham AFC.
Tom Wagner told Sky Sports: ‘Our hearts go out to the families and friends of Leo Ross, who was senselessly [killed] in Birmingham and we genuinely feel for everyone who is so affected by that and hope we can collectively come together to stop this kind of thing happening in the future.
‘So to his mum and dad, his family and friends, we care for you, we love you and we’re so sorry.
‘It’s a difficult thing to see a 12-year-old to lose his life in a situation like that so I thought it would be inappropriate for us not to at least mention it.’
Earlier, West Midlands Police confirmed that officers had been granted extra time to question the 14-year-old boy who had been arrested on suspicion of Leo’s murder.
The force said he had also been arrested on suspicion of three assaults in the Hall Green area – on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday – the latter being shortly before the attack on Leo. All victims were said to be aged in their 70s and 80s.
Chief Superintendent Richard North speaking to the media at the scene near Scribers Lane in the Hall Green area of Birmingham
Police officers at the scene near Scribers Lane in the Hall Green area of Birmingham
A police dog handler was spotted at the scene of the fatal stabbing on Wednesday
Police continued to attend the crime scene on Wednesday following the stabbing
Police officers searched the park where Leo was found throughout Wednesday
Ch Supt Richard North of West Midlands Police said: ‘I would ask the public and the media not to speculate on the motive of this incident, the investigation is in the early stages and we have someone in custody.
‘I would urge anyone who saw what happened, or who has CCTV, mobile phone or dashcam footage from the area at the time to get in touch with us as soon as possible to help us build as clear a picture as possible.
‘We continue to work day in day out, with parents, schools, carers and other partners to educate young people on knife crime and its devastating consequences.
‘This work must and will continue. Today, our focus is on the family of the young boy who has lost his life in such a tragic way, and ensuring we get justice for him and his family.’
Anyone with information is asked to contact West Midlands Police via 101, its online live chat, or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
You can donate to raise money in memory of Leo here.
