A 14-year-old schoolboy has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a teenager was killed outside his home during a brutal attack by a gang of youths armed with guns and knives.
The 15-year-old died after witnesses heard shots fired in the Handsworth area of Birmingham in broad daylight on Thursday afternoon.
Emergency services rushed to the scene following the ambush at around 3.30pm but the youngster, who has not been named, died shortly after arriving at hospital.
The suspects fled on foot after crashing a Ford hatchback into a house on a nearby road sparking a police manhunt.
West Midlands Police today revealed a 14-year-old has been arrested on suspicion of murdering the boy – who lived locally – and remains in custody.
A post mortem examination will take place in due course to establish the teenager’s cause of death.
Police forensics examine the scene where the crashed getaway car was abandoned in Wheeler Street, Handsworth, Birmingham, on Thursday night
Shocked neighbours said the teenage victim was shot by the gang before being stabbed multiple times outside his home
They claim the teenager’s mother, a cleaner at a local school who has four other children, had been left ‘inconsolable’ by the tragedy.
One resident, a family friend who wished to remain anonymous, said: ‘It’s just so sad.
‘He’s just a young boy and hasn’t gone anywhere in life yet and his life is gone.
‘I know his mum as she works at a school as a cleaner.
‘I feel for the mother because she’s just such a lovely person and she’s my friend. I just feel bad, I wish I could take her flowers and have a little vigil for him.
Police at the scene of the attack in Handsworth, Birmingham, on Thursday night
‘It happened outside her own house.
‘As he was on the stretcher, they had his clothes cut off and a big old plaster on the right side. Then there was a police chase for probably around 10 minutes afterwards, we heard the sirens.
‘We were just watching a movie and chilling and having a laugh at the time and thought nothing more of it.
‘The whole thing is just horrible.
‘I think the mum has five children, the last baby born is now between four to five-years-old.
‘I always talked and laughed in the shops and on the street with her because it’s just what young mums do.’
An officer stands at the police cordon on Linwood Road in Handsworth last night where the suspects crashed their getaway car
Another resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said: ‘I know the mum to say hello to but I didn’t know her children that well.
‘They all seem like nice kids. The mum is inconsolable apparently, but that goes without saying. You can’t imagine the pain she must be going through right now.’
Another local added: ‘I didn’t hear anything about it until I heard all the police cars and ambulances, it was a hell of a lot of noise and quite chaotic.
‘So I obviously went outside to check to see what was going on and saw the commotion. There was a lot of people and police cars.
‘I thought there had just been a car accident or something not that somebody had died. It’s just terribly sad, that’s a little boy and he’s so young being 15 years old.’
The residential street in the city suburb remains cordoned while officers continue to carry out forensic examinations.
West Midlands Police cordoned off an area in Handsworth area following the shooting
Detective Chief Inspector Alastair Orencas said: ‘Our investigation has progressed at pace and this arrest is a positive step forward as we try to establish exactly what happened yesterday afternoon.
‘Yesterday’s events were shocking and tragic.
‘My thoughts are with the boy’s family who are being supported by specialist family liaison officers at this incredibly sad and difficult time.
‘We’re doing all we can to fully understand what took place, violence like this on our streets is heart-breaking and deeply concerning.
‘I’d urge anyone who saw anything or has any information to contact us as soon as possible.’
Officers cordoned off a house in the Lozells area of Birmingham where a car crashed into a house
Neighbours living on the road spoke of their horror after the violence erupted on their doorstep yesterday afternoon.
Zuzanna Wozinak, 21, said: ‘You just cannot fathom that people that young can be involved in something this horrifically violent.
‘I didn’t see what happened but I was told they just jumped this lad out of the blue, some had guns and some had knives.
‘It is the stuff of nightmares, of gangster movies. It’s terrifying.
‘My heart goes out to that poor boy’s family. The violence seems to be getting worse on our streets – it is becoming lawless around here.’
Another resident, who did not want to be named, added: ‘I no longer feel safe walking around here even in the daytime.
Emergency services (pictured) rushed to the scene following the ambush at around 3.30pm but the youngster, who has not been named, died shortly after arriving at hospital
‘There’s running gang wars and the police are nowhere to be seen until something like this happens.
‘He was just 15-year-old. He was a baby. How can this happen?’
A West Midlands Police spokesperson added: ‘Anyone who saw what happened and has not yet spoken to us should contact us urgently via Live Chat on our website or by calling 101.
‘Information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.’
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesperson said on Thursday: ‘We received a number of calls to Linwood Road in Handworth, at 3.39pm this afternoon.
‘Three ambulances, a paramedic officer, a critical care paramedic and a BASICS emergency doctor attended and arrived on scene to find a male requiring emergency treatment.
‘Ambulance crews provided advanced trauma care on scene before conveying him to hospital on blue lights.’