Taxi attack sees passenger, 18, stabbed to death and boy, 16, injured
A bloody ambush saw an 18-year-old man stabbed to death and a boy left with serious injuries as they were set upon while travelling through Leeds in a taxi. West Yorkshire Police[1] have launched a murder investigation in the wake of the violence which involved three people from another vehicle attacking the two teenagers. One of the taxi passengers, named locally as Jamie Meah, was rushed to hospital but was pronounced dead a short time later.
A murder investigation has now been launched. The second victim, a 16-year-old boy, was taken to hospital with serious injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening. Jamie was riding in the taxi during rush hour on Friday with his younger friend when another vehicle brought the private hire car to a halt and the trio leapt out to attack its two passengers.
Streets around the scene of the fatal bloody ambush are cordoned off by police (Ben Lack-YappApp)
Mail Online[2] reports that Jamie ran from the scene into a nearby a fish and chip shop, where he collapsed and was given CPR, but died from his injuries.
One resident in the area recounted with horror how his friend – the owner of the shop – tried desperately to stem one of the victim’s blood after the stabbing. Dave Richmond told Leeds Live[3] his friend was caught in the middle of the “traumatising” incident when one of the young men came running in with blood pouring everywhere. “He got his tea towels to stem the flow of blood and tried to keep him talking, Mr Richmond said.
“He said what felt like hours was only minutes until the paramedics turned up.” A woman who moved to the Armley area five months ago said this was the third time police have descended on the area since she relocated, leaving her feeling unsafe. She said: “The streets have been cordoned off all night outside my home and no one will tell me what’s wrong.
I’ve only lived here since November and three times there’s been an incident. “I don’t feel safe. This never happened in 20 years of living in the Pontefract area.”
The latest attack comes just days after an 18-year-old was fatally stabbed in a nearby area. In last night’s incident, police were alerted by the ambulance on Friday at 5.29pm to reports two males had been seriously injured and officers rushed to Hall Lane and Brentwood Terrace in Armley, west Leeds. Police cordons are in place on the streets while forensic examinations and specialist searches will be carried out in the surrounding area.
West Yorkshire Police have launched a murder investigation (MEN Media)
Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Lee Townley of the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team said: “Extensive enquiries are being carried out in relation to this murder investigation, our thoughts remain with the victim who has lost his life as a result of a violent attack on the streets of Leeds.
“We are working to establish the full circumstances surrounding this incident. “What we do know is that the two males were in a taxi at the time when they were attacked by three suspects in another vehicle. I would appeal urgently to anyone who was in the area last night, who may have dashcam footage, or CCTV or mobile phone footage of anything suspicious to come forward.”
DCI Townley added: “This incident will undoubtedly cause concern in the community and we are working with our colleagues in the Neighbourhood Policing team to step up patrols and provide extra reassurance.”
Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 101 or use the live chat facility here, quoting log number 1331 of March 31.
Information can also be given anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
References
- ^ West Yorkshire Police (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ Mail Online (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Leeds Live (www.leeds-live.co.uk)