Detectives have been granted extra time to question a 15-year-old boy on suspicion of murdering Babacar Diagne in Coventry.
Babacar was found collapsed on grassland off Petitor Crescent, Wood End, at around 7pm on Wednesday having been stabbed. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The teenage murder suspect was detained at a property in Canley on Thursday night (February 6), and remains in custody where he is being questioned about what happened.
The police added: “A second suspect in our investigation to trace the people responsible for killing Babacar also remains in police custody.
“The 15-year-old was arrested when officers stopped a car in the Wood End area at around 2pm on Friday afternoon.”
Seven other people – four women, aged 21, 31 and 32 and 49, two men aged 18 and 22 and a 16-year-old boy have been released under investigation after they were arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.
Police re-iterated today that it is understood Babacar was attacked by three black males who arrived at the murder scene on pedal cycles. The reason behind the attack still remains unclear, but homicide detectives are working on a number of possible motives.
Detective Chief Inspector Scott Griffiths from the Homicide Unit is leading the investigation. He said: “We are making swift progress on the case but our officers will continue to work around the clock until we are satisfied we have caught everyone involved in this awful attack.
“I would urge anyone who suspects they know who’s involved, or if anyone has overheard a conversation about the stabbing or saw anything suspicious near Petitor Crescent on Wednesday night, to please get in touch.
“The people responsible do not deserve protection. They have killed a child and we all collectively need to make a stand to show this is not acceptable.”
If anyone was driving through the Petitor Crescent area between 6-8pm on Wednesday and has dash-cam footage police want them to get in touch on 101 or message us on Live Chat via the website.
Or information can be passed anonymously to the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
The police added: “100% anonymous always – tell them what you know, not who you are. “