Chilling Bodycam Footage Exposes Teen Killer's Deceptive Act
Disturbing police bodycam footage has revealed the calculated deception of a teenage murderer who posed as a concerned witness after fatally stabbing a 12-year-old boy in Birmingham. The now 15-year-old killer, who cannot be named for legal reasons, today admitted to the murder of Leo Ross and assaults on three elderly women in the days leading up to the tragedy.
The Tragic Attack on Leo Ross
The horrific incident occurred on January 21 last year when 12-year-old Leo Ross was walking home from school near Scribers Lane in Hall Green. At approximately 3pm, the young victim suffered a catastrophic stab wound to his stomach. Despite being rushed to hospital, Leo tragically passed away more than four hours later.
Leo, a pupil at Christ Church C of E Secondary School, was described by investigating officers as being "in the wrong place at the wrong time". CCTV footage released by West Midlands Police shows the killer riding his bicycle to the murder scene, cycling around the area, and then returning home after speaking with police officers.
The Calculated Deception Unfolds
The bodyworn camera footage captures the teenager's chilling interaction with police officers near the crime scene. In a performance that investigators described as him "getting a kick out of seeing the chaos he'd created", the killer pretended to be an innocent bystander who had discovered the injured boy.
In the footage, the teenager tells officers: "I was riding. There's a... you know, because there's a mechanic shop up there. I was going to come through here cos that leads that way. This is when I seen him and then I seen this woman. She was walking down, so I told her to call you guys. Then I went to get some help from different people and that's all I know about it."
When questioned about why he didn't touch the victim, the killer responded: "I didn't touch him because that could put me in the case." His voice was distorted by police in the released footage due to his status as a juvenile.
A Pattern of Violence and Deception
Investigations revealed this was not an isolated incident of deception. Two days before murdering Leo, the teenager had attacked an elderly woman in Trittiford Mill Park in Hall Green, hitting her with her own walking stick and pushing her into a river, causing serious injury.
Remarkably, after this assault, he warned members of the public about what had happened, presenting himself as a genuine do-gooder concerned for people's welfare. He also attacked two other women on January 20 and attempted to assault another elderly woman on the morning of the day Leo was killed.
Police Investigation and Identification
Detective Inspector Joe Davenport, who led the investigation, explained how the killer's pattern of behavior ultimately led to his identification. "On each occasion, on the 19 and 20 January, a description was given. But it wasn't a very detailed description," he stated.
"It was then looking back at the three days worth of incidents where the description seemed to match the boy responsible on each occasion. So a boy riding a bike wearing all dark clothing. That boy was then still at the scene of Leo's murder. It raised suspicion over who he was and why he was there which ultimately led to his identification and his arrest."
DI Davenport described the killer's behavior at crime scenes as particularly disturbing: "From the bodyworn video from officers at the scene, we can see him in the background loitering around watching what's going on almost as if he's enjoying it and getting a kick out of seeing the chaos that he's created."
Community Impact and Remembrance
The murder has had a profound impact on the Hall Green community, with tributes continuing to be paid to Leo Ross a year after his tragic death. Floral tributes and messages of remembrance have been placed at the scene on Scribers Road, where the community continues to mourn the loss of the much-loved schoolboy.
The case has highlighted serious concerns about youth violence and the complex psychology of young offenders capable of such calculated deception alongside violent acts. As the legal proceedings continue, the community remains focused on remembering Leo while grappling with the disturbing details of how his killer attempted to evade responsibility through elaborate pretence.
