Mother weeps at shrine for knifed son, 15
A MOTHER collapsed in tears at a shrine to her teenage son yesterday as police quizzed a boy of 14 over his murder.
Heather Lane knelt in front of a photograph of her and youngest son Alfie Lewis, 15, and whispered ‘why’ as she sobbed with her head in her hands.
A friend tried to comfort her while her emotional eldest son Antony stood by her side.
Alfie was stabbed to death yards from a primary school as he walked to meet friends in Horsforth, Leeds, on Tuesday. His family paid tribute to the boy they called ‘uncle Alfie’ in a statement last night.
They said: ‘Alfie you were one in a million, so funny and an all-round entertainer with your rapping and dancing feet. You had the biggest heart and took care of everybody around you.
‘You will never know just how much you are loved by family and friends, and you will always be our uncle Alfie. We love you so much. Nothing will ever be the same without you. You will shine in the sky, as bright as you did in all our lives. I love you more than words can say, and you will always be with us forever.’
Alfie was stabbed just before 3pm on Tuesday in what friends believe was a ‘targeted’ attack by one assailant. The assault was also near Horsforth School, where he was a former secondary school pupil. Last night, more than £12,000 had been donated to a GoFundMe site to help his family.
Yesterday, well-wishers gathered at a bench near Alfie’s home to lay flowers.
Maisie Tattersall, 14, said: ‘ He was an amazing best friend who was adored by everyone. He loved football and socialising and sitting on his bench, where all the flowers and tributes are today. I’ll always miss Alfie and I’ll never forget him.’
West Yorkshire Police said Alfie was pronounced dead in
‘He was adored by everyone’
hospital following the attack. A boy of 14 was arrested on suspicion of murder shortly afterwards while a boy of 16 arrested on Tuesday was released without charge.
A murder probe has been launched over a 16-year- old boy who died after being shot in Birmingham at the weekend. The teenager was found with serious wounds in Ladywood on Sunday and died in hospital on Tuesday.
West Midlands Police said a boy of 17 arrested on Tuesday remained in custody.