Over the past decade, 10 murders in the West Midlands have remained unsolved, leaving detectives puzzled and families without closure. While most homicides are resolved by police, these cases hit dead ends due to lack of evidence, unidentified suspects, or insufficient grounds for charges.
Ibrahim Ismail – December 2016
Syrian student Ibrahim Ismail, 23, was stabbed in the heart and back during a mass brawl outside a Shisha lounge in Highgate in December 2016. Baseball bats and fence posts were used in the chaotic scene. Nine people were sentenced for their roles in the brawl, but Ismail's killer was never identified.
Tony Nicholls – November 2017
Tony Nicholls, 56, died in hospital days after three arsonists broke into his Tile Cross home and set off industrial-sized fireworks, causing an inferno. The former Jaguar Land Rover worker suffered severe burns and smoke inhalation. Despite several arrests, detectives never caught the killers. In 2025, West Midlands Police released never-before-seen CCTV footage in hopes of a breakthrough.
Fidel Glasgow – September 2018
Fidel Glasgow, grandson of The Specials legend Neville Staples, was stabbed to death during a brawl in Coventry city centre. Several men were convicted for possession of offensive weapons and violent disorder, but no one has been charged with his murder.
Margaritis Xhindi – June 2020
The Albanian dad-of-three died in horrific circumstances in Brierley Hill when he was trapped in a locked cannabis factory as a deadly fire took hold. Detectives believe both men were trafficked into the UK from abroad and held against their will.
Kevin Lomas – April 2021
Kevin Lomas, 56, was stabbed to death in his Hall Green home. Two people were arrested but never charged. A £20,000 reward was offered, and new CCTV was released in 2024 in an effort to solve the case.
Martin Howells – September 2021
Martin Howells, 31, suffered serious head injuries in a machete attack while walking along East Park Way in Wolverhampton. A teenager arrested on suspicion of murder was bailed and never charged. A £20,000 reward was offered a year later.
Jinming Zhang – February 2022
Jinming Zhang, 41, was stabbed multiple times in the chest during a robbery at a brothel in Digbeth, described as a bloodbath. The case left detectives baffled.
Mohammed Kasim – July 2022
Mohammed Kasim, 30, was shot inside a car on Eversley Road in Small Heath just after midnight on July 7, 2022. Detectives remain hopeful, issuing images of five men wanted in connection with the slaying in 2026.
Ekrimh Mena'a – September 2024
Ekrimh Mena'a, 39, was stabbed to death near the junction of Hunters Road and Villa Road in Lozells following disorder shortly after midnight. Dahir Ali has been named as the prime suspect but remains on the run.
