Hall Green heartbroken at loss of one of their own | Global News Avenue

The throng of crying children at Vinnie Kaur’s florist shop in Hall Green, Birmingham, this week was almost too much to bear.

“Some people say you must be making money on flowers,” she said.

“I don’t want to make money that way.”

Ms Kaur heard police sirens outside the White Lotus and rushed outside to see police and schoolchildren in nearby Scribe Lane for five days.

Leo Rose, 12, stabbed When he came home from Christ Church C, E Secondary College Tuesday at 15:40 GMT.

Within hours of a police appeal urgently seeking witnesses and video footage, it was confirmed Leo had died and a 14-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of murder.

He is believed to be the youngest victim of knife crime in the West Midlands.

The attack is believed to have occurred near the railway bridge, adjacent to Trittiford Mill Park.

Dozens of floral tributes and balloons were left there, along with emotional tributes from his classmates.

“He was never a problem,” Ms. Kaur said of Leo.

“Such an innocent face. I’ve never seen (him) make any noise or wander.”

She said for many people in the area, it’s like they’ve lost one of their own.

“I’ve never seen anything like this,” she said.

“Maybe he was an angel soul and that’s why everyone came together.”

Hall Green is an affluent part of Birmingham between the city center and Solihull.

Many families are attracted to the area’s good primary and secondary schools.

That Leo was killed while returning home from his home, shocking the entire community.

Laura, who works at the Billsedge Cafe in Highfield Road, said she failed to send her 12-year-old son to school the day after it happened.

“Even before this happened, I wouldn’t have put him anywhere and I wouldn’t have let him here. I just felt like this was a safe place,” she said.

“It’s not a safe area… I want to leave Birmingham, to be honest.”

She had previously spoken to her son about knife crime in the city and even searched his school bag.

“It’s something I’ve drilled into them since I was a kid,” she said. “He was very aware of knife crime.

“I think more needs to be done in schools. I think when you come into schools they should have some kind of metal detector.

“Parents need to check their kids’ bags and blazers.”

Leo is a “lively and cheerful young man” and “adored by his friends” said the principal.

Not long since he left Chilcot Primary School, just around the corner where he was attacked.

In a letter to parents and carers, Chilcote’s head teacher said she had spoken to all children aged three to six and offered support from their trusted adult if needed.

“I know this is very concerning news for our community, but it is even more devastating for us in our thoughts and for the families of the victims,” ​​she said.

Primary school children who are old enough to enjoy the independence of walking home may wish to collect if adults or older siblings are anxious, the letter added.

A vigil is planned in Hall Green on Sunday with a permanent memorial at a later date.

But what many people here and across Birmingham want are answers and solutions.

Saranya Rajgru, who works at a convenience store in Abbey Road, is new to Hall Green.

She was used to the excited chatter of the students at Christ Church and started eating desserts after school.

But the mood changed this week.

“Everyone looked scared,” she said.

“This is an area we have a lot of schools in. We need to think about mental health.

“Schools (and) everyone needs to make students aware of not using these sharp objects.”

Near Leo’s secondary school, on Ravenshill Road, a colorful mural has been spray-painted on a fence that stands out from the crowd.

It read: “Rest in Leo. Put down the knife and save the life.”