Teenage Killer Kian Moulton Identified and Sentenced for Murder of Leo Ross
A 15-year-old boy has been unmasked as the killer of a defenseless 12-year-old in a brutal and random attack in Birmingham. Kian Moulton, from Yardley, was given a life sentence for murdering Leo Ross in Trittiford Mill Park, Yardley Wood, and must serve a minimum of 13 years behind bars.
West Midlands Police released Moulton's mugshot this afternoon, Thursday, February 12, after BirminghamLive successfully won a legal appeal to publicly identify the teenage offender. The now 15-year-old was just 14 at the time of the fatal stabbing in January last year.
A Tragic and Random Act of Violence
Leo Ross was walking home from school when he encountered Moulton, a complete stranger, in Trittiford Mill Park. Moulton stabbed the young boy in the stomach and left him for dead before discarding the murder weapon in nearby bushes by a stream.
In a particularly callous act, Moulton then asked a passer-by to call the police, falsely claiming he had discovered Leo injured at the scene. He repeated this lie to responding officers before casually riding his bicycle home.
Leo tragically succumbed to his injuries later that same day, sparking a major investigation by West Midlands Police detectives.
Extensive Police Investigation
Detectives reviewed hundreds of hours of CCTV and doorbell camera footage during their investigation, which ultimately identified Moulton as the prime suspect. He was subsequently arrested at his home address.
During police interviews, Moulton answered no comment to all questions and refused to provide any explanation for his violent actions. However, while being arrested, he did tell officers they would not find the knife he used to kill Leo.
Police Statement on a Dangerous Individual
Detective Inspector Joe Davenport, who led the investigation, described the killing as "such a tragic and random act of violence which killed an innocent young boy."
"There is no indication Leo and the defendant knew one another - this appears to have been a totally random attack," Davenport stated. "From our investigation, it seemed he liked to cause violence before calling the police and watching the chaos he had caused."
The detective inspector emphasized the severity of Moulton's actions: "The escalation in his violence from previous incidents shows what a truly dangerous individual he is. We will likely never know why he decided to attack Leo, who was completely innocent."
The case highlights ongoing concerns about youth violence in Birmingham communities and the devastating impact such random attacks have on families and neighborhoods.
