Leo Ross Murder: Guilty Plea Over Killing of 12-year-old Stuns Birmingham

A 15-year-old teen pleaded guilty at Birmingham Crown Court on 29 January to the murder of schoolboy Leo Ross on 21 January 2025 in Birmingham. The teenager admitted to stabbing the 12-year-old boy, who was described by his family as 'amazing, kind, loving,' as he was walking home from school.

Leo Ross was on his way home on 21 January from the Christ Church, Church of England secondary academy when the then 14-year-old attacker, whose name is not revealed, randomly stabbed him in the stomach. He died later in hospital in Shire Country Park, Hall Green, Birmingham.

Police Investigations

According to police inquiries, the knife used to kill Leo Ross was tossed into a river nearby per The Guardian. Over six months ago, a trial was postponed to allow the defendant to be assessed by psychiatric experts.

West Midlands Police reported that the remorseless teen had been around the area several days prior to the murder, assaulting several other people. On 19, 20, and 21 January, he had also attacked people in the same area where he murdered Leo, including an incident involving an elderly woman, whom he beat with a walking stick and threw into the river, per BBC. Detective Inspector Joe Davenport of West Midlands Police said he went after those whom he was certain 'he could beat and would easily overpower.'

In a footage that was shared by West Midlands Police after the teen pleaded guilty to the murder, he is shown talking to an officer, claiming he had found Leo's body, and telling someone to 'raise the alarm.'

The teen, after telling one of Leo's friends, 'Your mate has just been stabbed,' rode back in his bike to the murder scene, where he falsely claimed to West Midlands Police he had stumbled across the victim by the River Cole, fatally injured. He also admitted to two counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, as well as assault occasioning bodily harm in previous attacks. He admitted to carrying a bladed weapon on the day of the murder.

Davenport said the teen's behaviour seemed bizarre, saying, 'he said that he didn't touch him, so he's not involved in the case. Just a really unusual thing to say. He was wearing dark clothing with his hood up - it felt unusual to be dressed in that way. The fact that he's continued to do it and has hung around afterwards, waiting to see what happens, it's like he was enjoying seeing what he's done.'

Judge Farrer KC said to Leo's killer, 'I can't sentence you today for a number of reasons. You will be sentenced on the 10th of February and you will be brought from wherever you are being kept to Birmingham where you can speak to your lawyers. In the meantime, you are remanded into youth detention.'

Senseless Violence for an Innocent Life

After the hearing, Jonathan Roe of the Crown Prosecution Service said, 'This was a senseless act of violence that has devastated a family and robbed a 12-year-old boy of his life. The defendant's guilty plea today means Leo's loved ones have at least been spared the ordeal of a trial. Our thoughts remain with them as they continue to cope with this unimaginable loss.'

Senior Investigating Officer Detective Inspector Joe Davenport of West Midlands Police said of the attack, 'This was a heartbreaking and senseless attack on a young boy who was completely innocent. Leo was just walking home from school when he was the victim of an entirely unprovoked attack.'

On the teen attacker, he said, 'Because of this boy's actions, Leo and his family have been robbed of the life he could have lived.' He said to the family, 'Our thoughts remain with Leo's family and we hope they can gain some closure knowing justice has been done.'

Rachel Fisher, Leo's birth mother, said, 'My life will never be the same again without him. He will be loved and missed for ever.'