Family's Heartbreaking Tribute to Leo Ross as Teenage Killer Jailed
The family of Leo Ross, a 12-year-old boy who became one of the UK's youngest knife crime victims, has issued a devastating tribute following the sentencing of his killer at Birmingham Crown Court. The teenager, aged 15 at the time of the attack, received a life sentence with a minimum term of 13 years in custody for the fatal stabbing that occurred in January last year.
A Life Stolen in a Random Attack
Leo Ross was walking home from school in the Hall Green area of Birmingham when he was subjected to a completely unprovoked and random attack. There was no indication that the victim and his assailant knew each other, and police have confirmed there was no known motive for the violent assault that claimed the young boy's life.
In a statement released through West Midlands Police, Leo's mother Rachel Fisher described her son as "the sweetest, most kind-hearted boy" who "didn't have a bad bone in his body." She expressed the profound grief that has enveloped the family, stating: "My baby's life was stolen for no reason whatsoever. My life will never be the same again without him. He will be loved and missed forever."
The Day of the Attack
On the day of the murder, CCTV footage captured the killer riding his bicycle around the Trittiford Mill Park area. The teenager encountered Leo and stabbed him before discarding the weapon in bushes near a local stream. In a disturbing twist, the assailant then asked a passer-by to call emergency services and even spoke to officers at the scene, claiming he had discovered Leo there.
Despite medical intervention, Leo succumbed to his injuries later that same day, leaving his family and community in profound shock and mourning.
Foster Family's Emotional Statement
Leo's foster family, the Westons, also released a powerful statement following the sentencing, acknowledging that while the court had reached its decision, true justice remained elusive. They stated: "Today's sentencing does not bring justice in the way our hearts long for. No sentence can ever undo or compensate the loss of Leo nor return him to us. Our family will live with this pain forever."
The family described Leo as a "polite, lovely, kind boy, full of life and energy" whose presence "would light up a room." They emphasised his intelligence, kindness, and the way he "put others before himself and made friends wherever we went."
A Permanent Void in the Family
The Westons' statement continued with raw emotion: "Leo was taken from us for no reason in a senseless and unprovoked act of violence. He was deeply loved and should still be here, laughing, living, and sharing life with us. We miss him every day, our world has been torn apart and his absence has left a permanent void in our family, one that can never be filled."
They added that while they acknowledged the court's decision, it "marks neither closure nor healing" but rather represents "simply another step in a journey of grief that began the day we lost Leo."
Remembering Leo's Legacy
The family concluded their tribute by focusing on preserving Leo's memory rather than dwelling on the manner of his death. They stated: "Our focus remains on remembering who Leo was, not how he was taken from us. Leo's life mattered. His kindness, his laughter, and his love will always be part of who we are."
They affirmed that though Leo is no longer physically present, he "will live on in our memories, in the stories we share, and in the love we carry for him every day. We will miss him always. He will never be forgotten, and he will forever be loved."
The 15-year-old perpetrator is set to be publicly named this week following a judicial decision, bringing this tragic case to wider public attention while highlighting ongoing concerns about youth violence in communities across the UK.
