Mum’s heartbreaking appeal after son, 16, is stabbed to death in Birmingham

The mother of a teenager murdered in Lozells on Tuesday (12 July) is “begging anyone with information to come forward and help save other children”.

Sekou Doucoure, aged 16, was stabbed in Nursery Road, near Burbury Street at around 6.30pm. Despite the best efforts of armed response officers, who found Sekou within 11 minutes, and paramedics who arrived just after, nothing could be done to save him and he died at the scene.

A post mortem examination confirmed he died of a stab wound. Three people were arrested in connection with Sekou’s death. A 12-year-old boy has been released with no further action. A 15-year-old boy has been released on police bail, and a 19-year-old man has been released pending further investigation.

Mother’s tribute to ‘kind and respectful boy’

Sekou’s mother has said: “My son was a lovely, hardworking, kind and respectful boy. He absolutely loved his family and close friends. His biggest passion was playing football. He had his whole life ahead of him. He was taken from us too soon and in the worst possible way.

“I am begging anyone who may have any information that could help bring the culprits to face the law and keep them away from our society, before any other child’s life is taken away.”

Detective Inspector Laura Harrison, from the force’s homicide team, said: “My deepest condolences are with Sekou’s family at this desperately sad time. We have specialist family liaison officers supporting them. Our investigation is very much ongoing and we’re speaking to witnesses and trawling hours of CCTV footage to gain a better understanding of what happened to Sekou.

“We still need your help, if you saw something any haven’t spoken to us, please do so. Or if you have CCTV, mobile phone or dash cam footage get in touch. We know there were a number of vehicles in Nursery Road and Farm Street at the time. The community are understandably shaken by Sekou’s death, we’re working closely with a range of partners to try and better understand violence, why it is present within our communities and offer support to young people who may be at risk.”

The force added: “We ask anyone who saw what happened or who has CCTV or mobile phone footage to get in touch with us via Live Chat or by calling 101 quoting log 3492 of 12/7. If you have information but don’t want to tell us who you are, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

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