Teenage boys questioned after girl, 12, stabbed to death at Christmas event
Public urged to check phones for footage after argument in Liverpool city centre leads to knife attack
FOUR schoolboys aged between 13 and 15 were last night being questioned on suspicion of murder after a 12-year-old girl was stabbed to death following a petty row at a Christmas lights switchon in Liverpool.
Ava White was at the event with a group of friends when she was attacked just after 8.30pm on Thursday.
Police said a verbal argument had broken out between youngsters and it had rapidly escalated into violence, with unconfirmed reports that Ava had been stabbed in the neck.
Christmas shoppers who witnessed the attack tried to perform first aid on the Year Eight pupil while waiting for paramedics and police to arrive.
She was rushed to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, but was declared dead a short time later.
Large crowds were in the city centre to see the Christmas lights and numerous people reported seeing four youths fleeing the scene on foot.
Merseyside Police confirmed four boys, one aged 13, two aged 14 and the oldest aged 15, were arrested at different locations in the Toxteth area of the city. No weapon has yet been recovered.
Last night tributes were paid to Ava, who was a pupil at Notre Dame Catholic College in Liverpool. Peter Duffy, the head teacher, said: “She was an incredibly popular girl, with a fantastic group of friends. Our deepest thoughts and prayers go out to Ava’s family and friends and all those affected by this utterly tragic event.”
Rebecca Flynn, the head at Ava’s former school, Trinity RC Primary, added: “We are left with lasting memories of a bright and respectful little girl.”
Ava’s friends, who were with her at the time of the attack, were last night receiving specialist counselling.
Det Supt Sue Coombs from Merseyside Police said CCTV in the city centre was helping detectives in their investigation.
She said: “We know at the moment that Ava was with her friends in Liverpool city centre and there has been a verbal argument which has escalated to an assault on her involving a knife.”
But she also appealed for anyone who had been in the area on Thursday evening and who might have any relevant phone footage to contact police.
“There were an awful lot of people in town because of the switch-on of the lights, so we’re asking if people would just check their phones,
“While taking photos they may have picked up something of significance that they don’t even know yet.”
Mary Katilius, 65, from Limerick, in Ireland, said she had been in Liverpool city centre with her 18-year-old granddaughter when the attack happened.
She said: “We heard screams and someone said to call an ambulance. My granddaughter said she saw some young guys running off. We rushed over straight away but there was already a man helping her.”
Yesterday devastated friends visited the scene to lay flowers and cards and pay tribute to Ava.
One 17-year-old, who did not wish to give her name, said her younger sister had been close friends with Ava.
She said: “She was a bubbly character, so loving and caring. She just came out with her friends to enjoy herself.”
Assistant Chief Constable Jon Roy, said: “No parent should ever have to face that knock on the door from police officers to say that their child has died.
Mr Roy pointed out that Ava’s death had come on White Ribbon Day, a global campaign to end violence against women and girls.