The foster family of 12-year-old knife victim Leo Ross have paid tribute to a 'kind, smart and talented boy' after he was murdered 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 around 7:30 p.m.
Police arrested a 14-year-old boy that evening, whom they are still questioning 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 attacks occurred just minutes before the alleged murder.
A fundraising campaign has now been launched by the schoolboy's foster family, who are said to have cared for him for the past seven years.
The family are raising money for an anti-knife crime charity, the Daniel Bair Foundation, named after a man who was stabbed to death in the city in 2017.
The GoFundMe page, written by family member Ishtiaq Shah, said Leo had been with his foster family for seven years, adding that the family was “devastated” by his loss.
Leo Ross, 12, died on Tuesday after being stabbed in the stomach in Birmingham's Hall Green area
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 attended the scene at Scribers Lane in Birmingham's Hall Green area on Wednesday where Leo was stabbed
The page read: 'I am the partner of Janet's daughter, Janet was Leo's guardian and loved him as she did.
“Leo Ross was in Janet's care for seven years until he was taken from us on Tuesday, January 21, and I have known Leo personally since the first day he came here seven years ago.
'We are all devastated by the loss of such a kind, smart and talented boy and whilst we cannot think beyond the recent terrible incident, we have decided to organize an official fundraiser for those who would like to give their love and support.
'As we do not want the money or be beneficiaries of it, we all agree that the Daniel Baird Foundation, run by Daniel's mother Lynne, would be a worthy charity and that all money goes directly to the charity and is not passed on by anyone else.'
The fundraiser quickly raised almost £3,000 and was accompanied by a photo of Leo feeding a bird.
In a separate tribute on social media posted by Mr Shah, with a photo of a school blazer hanging from the back of an empty chair, he spoke of the love shown to Leo by his foster mother.
“Leo was with you for seven years, from when he was just a few years old. You gave him love, warmth, comfort and safety,” it said.
'He was kind, caring, polite and conscientious, I can honestly say he gets that from you. You helped him with his homework and pushed him when he fell behind, making him a smart and intelligent boy.”
On Wednesday, bosses at Christ Church Secondary Academy (pictured), where Leo was a student, told parents the alleged attacker 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 placed on site on Wednesday evening
Devastated school friends left flowers and handwritten notes for Leo
Tributes named Leo Ross as a victim of the attack as dozens of bouquets were laid
It continued: “I'm glad you took care of 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 with you every moment.”
There were also tributes to Leo from Birmingham City's owner on Thursday evening, ahead of the club's crucial match against Wrexham AFC.
Tom Wagner told Sky Sports: 'Our thoughts go out to the families and friends of Leo Ross, who was senseless [killed] in Birmingham and we sincerely sympathize with everyone so affected and hope that we can collectively come together to prevent things like this from happening in the future.
“So to his mother and father, his family and friends: we care for you, we love you and we are so sorry.
“It's hard to watch a 12-year-old lose his life in a situation like that, so I thought it would be inappropriate if we didn't at least talk about it.”
Earlier, West Midlands Police confirmed that officers had been given extra time to question the 14-year-old boy arrested on suspicion of Leo's murder.
Police said he had also been arrested on suspicion of three attacks in the Hall Green area – on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday – the last shortly before the attack on Leo. All victims are said to be between seventy and eighty years old.
Chief Inspector Richard North speaks 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
After the stabbing, police continued to visit the crime scene on Wednesday
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 media not to speculate on the motive of this incident, the investigation is in its 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, to contact us as soon as possible to help us get the clearest picture possible.
'We continue to work day in, day out, with parents, schools, carers and other partners, to educate young people about knife crime and its devastating consequences.
'This work must and will continue. Today our focus is on the family of the young boy who lost his life so tragically, and on ensuring we get justice for him and his family.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact West Midlands Police via 101, the online live chat, or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
