Tragic schoolboy Leo Ross may have been the target of his phone and bicycle when he was stabbed dead, a family friend said today.
The 12-year-old was killed after he was attacked in broad daylight while he was home from school on Tuesday afternoon.
Emergency services were called on the spot in Hall Green, Birmingham – but Leo was declared dead in the hospital that evening.
A 14-year-old boy who was arrested on suspicion of his murder stays in custody after the police had more time to interrogate.
The teenager is also questioned in connection with three attacks on pensioners in the days prior to the death of Leo.
A friend of Leo's family has now revealed that the young person may have been attacked for his bike and new phone.
The friend, who did not want to be called, said: 'He was the target for his phone and bicycle, that is the way we understand.
Tragic schoolboy Leo Ross (photo) may be focused on his phone and bike when he was stabbed dead, a family friend said today
The 12-year-old was killed after he was attacked in broad daylight while he was home from school on Tuesday afternoon.
'Leo has done this trip a hundred times without problems, but we have heard that someone was making an advantage of the fact that he had a new phone.
“He was not afraid of these forests unlike what some people said, he often had no problems there.
'His family is just deeply saddened as you can imagine.
'To think that this was all on a telephone or a bike that every children have, you just can't understand.
“He was just small, he couldn't fight anyone. He was just a child. '
The police of West Midlands said today that the boy was still being questioned about the death of Leo and the three attacks.
A spokesperson for the power said: 'He remains in custody on suspicion of murder and three attacks of women in the area that took place on Sunday and Monday, before the murder of Leo.
“We continue to rely on information from everyone who may have seen what happened, especially if you have photos, CCTV or Dashcam images from the area around the time Leo was stabbed.”
Ishtiaq Shah, whose mother Janet was the boy's legal guardian, gave a heartbreaking tribute.
Today he said that the family had 'still a difficult and spooky night' when they came to terms with the death of Leo.
Ishtiaq said: 'We desperately want Leo to come home from school, he was only a few minutes away from safety, but we know he will never do that.
“He was a big brother for our two young children, so patient and loving for them.
“They were/are obsessed with him and will miss him.”
Ishtiaq launched a campaign to raise money for the Daniel Baird Foundation, a charity against knife.
He added: 'It was wonderful to see the reports received during the night of how many more of you they donated.
Chief Inspector Richard North speaks against the media on the scene near Scribers Lane in the Hall Green Area in Birmingham, where Leo was stabbed on Tuesday afternoon
A forensic officer works on the scene near Scribers Lane in the Hall Green Area of ​​Birmingham
'We are very grateful that you share our determination to prevent this happening again.
'If we can help one child to take care of a knife again, if we can train one person, if we can stop one bleeding and save one person from such a fatality, we will feel that our little brilliant Leo who happens, his death will be saved a life. '
Until now, almost £ 6,000 has been collected for charity, which offers products to help with bleeding stab wounds.
A GoFundMe has also been set up to raise money for the funeral of Leo and his family.
Kyle Hotchkins, 38, from Eesham, Worcs, who set up the page, which so far picked up £ 4,700, said: 'I just wanted to do what I could to help the family pay for a funeral he deserves.
'The entire community has been destroyed by it and my heart goes out to them. So I wanted to do what I could support them.
“What remains of money goes to a trust fund to help his family and his little sister.”
