The 15-year-old boy who died after being stabbed outside a primary school had gone to ‘collect a friend’s little brother’ when he was attacked by a ‘gang’, a witness has claimed.
Alfie Lewis was attacked outside St Margaret’s Primary School in Leeds shortly before 3pm yesterday.
He was reportedly stabbed in the stomach by at ‘least three youths who then fled the scene’. The teen suffered critical injuries and later died.
A witness told The Sun today: ‘He had gone to collect a friend’s little brother when he was attacked by a gang. Poor Alfie didn’t stand a chance.’
A teenager was last night being questioned by murder detectives over the attack.
A fifteen-year-old boy who has died after being stabbed outside a primary school has been named locally as Alfie Lewis
Tributes were paid online to Alfie, who it is believed was picking up another child from St Margaret’s Primary School in Town Lane
The scene at at the junction of Church Road and Church Lane remained cordoned off this morning as mourners began laying flowers in remembrance of Alfie.
Alfie, who a witness said was not been in school yesterday because he was ‘excluded two years ago’, has been described as ‘a lovely, kind, funny, mischievous, brave and generous young boy’.
A tribute posted on Facebook read: ‘I love and miss you so much Alfie fly high my lil ginge.
‘I’ll come see you soon.’
The organisers of a fundraising site set up in Alfie’s memory said: ‘He was loving, mischievous, adventurous and, as such, extremely popular.
‘He was everything a 15-year-old child should be and his life was senselessly taken from him before he had the chance to grow into it.’
Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Stacey Atkinson said: ‘Our investigation is at an early stage and we are carrying out extensive enquiries to establish exactly what led to this needless loss of a young man’s life.
‘We understand the immense impact and huge shock a tragic incident of this nature will will have on the community locally.
‘Our neighbourhood police team are working with partners, including schools in the area to offer support and reassurance.
‘We have already spoken to a number of witnesses and are keen to hear from anyone who has information about the incident.’
The youngster suffered critical injuries after being attacked in Horsforth, Leeds, shortly before 3pm yesterday
Emergency service workers attended the scene, including paramedics and the air ambulance.
A police helicopter was also seen in the sky. Floral tributes were left at the scene before Alfie’s death was confirmed by police.
He had been a pupil at Horsforth School & Sixth Form and turned 15 in September.
In a statement to parents, headteacher Paul Bell said: ‘You will be aware of a distressing incident in the community today involving a former student who’s as stabbed on St Margaret’s Avenue.
‘The police are aware and are working with the school.
‘Our thoughts and sympathies lie with the his at this time while the student is receiving medical treatment.
‘We are aware the distress and upset this has caused students and staff who know the student.’