A MURDER probe has been launched after a man was stabbed in Coventry – while police searches have stepped up.
Police were called on Wednesday (June 12) just after 2.30pm to reports of a fight in gardens behind Franklin Grove, Tile Hill, Coventry, involving several young men.
A man believed to be in his early 20s and from Coventry was found with a serious stab wound to his leg and pronounced dead at the scene.
A post mortem examination is due to take place today.
Last night (June 13), police in the city were granted increased stop-and-search powers in their hunt for justice.
Superintendent Phil Healy, from Coventry Police, said: “A young man has sadly died and our immediate thoughts are with his family and friends at this deeply distressing time.
“We have detectives working round the clock to find whoever was responsible for this tragedy and have stepped up patrols in the area.
“We will also have s60 powers in place from 7pm tonight (Thursday, June 13) until 2am tomorrow (Friday, June 14). This will allow officers to stop and search people without reasonable grounds where there is a risk of violence or it is believed weapons are being carried.
“Knife crime has a devastating impact on lives and communities and Coventry is not alone in experiencing the heartbreak brought about by weapons.
“We have been working hard with our partners to address knife crime ranging from schools inputs warning of the dangers of carrying knives to police lock-downs, drones operations and monitoring of known knife offenders.
“However, we can’t arrest our way out of this problem and we need parents/guardians to speak to their children. We urge them to make sure they know where their children are, who they are mixing with and challenge them over any suspicious behaviour.
“We also need the support of the community to report any information they have about violent behaviour or knife crime to us on via Live Chat at west-midlands.police.uk between 8am and midnight, call 101 anytime or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
A cordon was in place yesterday (June 13) while forensics experts continue scouring the scene for evidence.
Senior investigating officer detective inspector Nick Barnes said: “Clearly the investigation is at an early stage but we have already made good progress and spoken to a number of potentially key witnesses.
“We understand a group of around six or seven young men were fighting in rear gardens off Franklin Grove when one suffered the fatal stab wound.
“Moments earlier they were seen running across Tile Hill Lane.
“I would urge anyone who was in the area at the time and saw what happened, or people making off from the scene, to get in touch as they may have seen something important.
“And if anyone believes they know who may have been involved then I would ask them to get in touch.
“They can speak anonymously to the charity Crimestoppers; they won’t be asked for their names and calls cannot be traced.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact West Midlands Police via Live Chat at west-midlands.police.uk, call 101 any time, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
