Teen, 17, dies after stabbing on busy Coventry Road
DETECTIVES will this afternoon return to Small Heath this afternoon to make an anniversary re-appeal following an incident in which a teenager sustained fatal stab wounds on Wednesday afternoon.
Officers continue to make enquiries following the death of a 17-year-old last night.
Police were called following an incident on Coventry Road, in the vicinity of Small Heath Retail Park, at around 5pm on Wednesday 20 July.
A young man sustained stab wounds during an altercation with another young man, and he was taken to hospital with critical injuries. The man died as a result of those injuries at around midnight.
Detectives are in the very early stages of the inquiry and are appealing for anyone in the vicinity of Small Heath Retail Park yesterday evening to come forward.
Detective Chief Inspector Sab Johal, from West Midlands Police Force Criminal Investigation Department is leading the murder inquiry.
He said: “Our inquiries to date lead us to believe that the teenager was specifically targeted. He sustained stab wounds and was taken to hospital where he tragically died as a result of his injuries.
“Coventry Road would obviously have been extremely busy as people would have been starting to make their way home in rush hour.
“We know many people would have been in the vicinity, around Watering Hole island and Small Heath Retail Park, at around 5pm and we want anyone who saw anything to come forward.”
The teenager’s family have been informed and will be supported at this difficult time by specialist family liaison officers.
A post mortem examination will be conducted in due course to determine the exact cause of death.
Officers will be at the scene, on Coventry Road, this afternoon, from 4.15pm, to make an anniversary appeal 24 hours after the incident.
DCI Johal added: “We will be speaking to commuters and other people in the area to see if they may have information to help our investigation.”
Anyone in a position to assist the investigation should call detectives in Force CID in Birmingham on 0345 113 5000 or speak to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
