Teenage stabbing victim ‘had the biggest heart’, his family says
Alfie Lewis, 15, died after he was attacked in the Horsforth area of Leeds on Tuesday afternoon.
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Your support makes all the difference.A 15-year-old boy who died after he was stabbed near a school had the “biggest heart” and took care of everyone around him, his family said.
Alfie Lewis was attacked in the Horsforth area of Leeds on Tuesday afternoon as children were leaving two nearby schools.
On Wednesday, his family paid tribute to the teenager they called Uncle Alfie.
A family statement issued through West Yorkshire Police said: “I haven’t got the words to describe how devastated we all are.
“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.
“Love you Uncle Alfie.”
A 14-year-old boy who was arrested on suspicion of murder shortly after the incident remains in police custody.
The force said a 16-year-old boy arrested on suspicion of murder on Tuesday evening has been released without charge.
The incident happened at the junction of Church Road and Church Lane, in Horsforth, and a large area around this location remained cordoned off on Wednesday afternoon with forensic officers continuing to work.
A bench on Broadgate Lane, which is close to where Alfie lived, has been covered in floral tributes to the teenager and become a focal point for his friends to gather at.
Alfie was a former pupil of Horsforth School, which is close to where he was attacked.
School head Paul Bell said in a statement: “Horsforth School is overwhelmed by the kindness and support offered to us following the tragic loss of one of our former students yesterday.
“Everyone’s thoughts and sympathies lie with the boy’s family and friends.
“A tragedy like this is a huge shock to our school and local community, and we understand that people will be deeply affected by this rare incident.
“However, we know the community will rally together to support each other during this very sad and difficult time.”
Local Tory MP Stuart Andrew visited the bench on Wednesday afternoon and looked at the flowers.
Mr Andrew said: “It’s almost impossible to find the words that really describe how I’m feeling and how the whole community is feeling.
“But my primary thoughts at the moment are with the family. I cannot imagine what they are going through.”
Police said they were called to an assault just before 3pm on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, Detective Chief Inspector Stacey Atkinson said: “Alfie’s family are absolutely devastated about his death in such sudden and violent circumstances, and we are doing everything we can to support them and get them the answers they need.
“They have asked that their privacy is respected so that they can begin to grieve at what is clearly a very difficult and painful time for them.
“We fully appreciate that the murder of a child in these circumstances will cause concern in the community, and we are aware of various discussions and comments on social media.
“We would ask that people avoid unhelpful and often inaccurate speculation on social media which has the potential to cause unnecessary distress to the family and create issues that divert and distract the police response to this terrible incident.”
Ms Atkinson said: “We are still working to build up a clear picture of the circumstances surrounding Alfie’s murder and we ask people to leave it to the investigation to find out what led to Alfie’s tragic death.
“The exception to this is we would of course still like to hear from anyone who witnessed any part of this incident, which took place in a busy part of Horsforth, or who has any information that could assist the investigation.”
We're doing everything we can to clamp down in particular on knife crime as it impacts young people
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was asked about Alfie’s death during a visit to a Lincolnshire school, before his name was confirmed by police.
Mr Sunak, who described the incident as “awful”, said: “My heart goes out to the family and friends of the young person who was tragically killed.
“What I want to say is we’re doing everything we can to clamp down in particular on knife crime as it impacts young people.”
The organisers of a fundraising site set up in Alfie’s memory said he was “a lovely, kind, funny, mischievous, brave and generous young boy”.
They 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.”