A 15-year-old boy has tragically lost his life following a stabbing incident at All Saints Catholic High School in Sheffield, United Kingdom, police have confirmed.
The teenager, identified locally as Harvey Willgoose, was attacked at the school on Granville Road around 12:17 GMT.
Despite the swift response of emergency services, he succumbed to his injuries shortly afterward.
South Yorkshire Police have arrested another 15-year-old boy on suspicion of murder. He remains in custody as authorities work to piece together the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Speaking at a press conference, Assistant Chief Constable Lindsey Butterfield, assured the public that the investigation was progressing swiftly.
“We urge you to be mindful that there are loved ones at the centre of this,” she stated, urging the community to avoid speculation.
A heavy police presence was observed around the school, and floral tributes have been placed outside by those mourning the young victim.
Messages described Harvey as “the life of a party” who “brought joy and laughter to everyone who knew him.”
Another tribute noted his “bubbly personality was contagious,” while a grieving friend wrote, “I’ll never forget all the moments, all the laughs. You’ll be missed by so many.”
A 17-year-old who knew Harvey left flowers at the scene, recalling him as a fan of Sheffield United.
“I’m a bit upset to be honest, it came as such a shock. He seemed quite a happy guy and a nice guy to be around,” he shared.
Students at All Saints Catholic High School are grappling with the loss. One pupil described Harvey as “a lovely lad,” adding, “He would make your day better hearing him down that hallway. You didn’t have to personally know him to be upset. Teachers loved him, students loved him, everyone loved him.”
The student also noted that such a tragedy had never occurred in the school’s history.
All Saints, which received a “Good” rating in its latest Ofsted inspection in October 2023, had previously gone into lockdown due to an altercation between students, as mentioned in a message from head teacher Sean Pender on January 29.
When asked about this during the press conference, ACC Butterfield declined to comment further.
Following the incident, worried parents arrived at the school to pick up their children, expressing concern over circulating rumours.
One parent mentioned that students were becoming increasingly anxious.
In a message to parents on Monday, the head teacher expressed “shock and sorrow” over the tragic event and announced the school’s closure for Tuesday.
The community is struggling to come to terms with the tragedy. Amaan Ahmed, who runs the Castle Asian Community Trust near the school, highlighted ongoing concerns about knife crime in the area.
His organization works with young people to deter them from carrying weapons. “If it can happen in a public place like a school, people will be worried about going to the park too,” he warned.
The stabbing has prompted strong reactions from political leaders.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, while on a visit to Brussels, extended his condolences, saying, “The terrible stabbing in Sheffield is one where I think the whole country would want to reach out to the family, to the friends, to the school, the entire community in their grief and mourn with them.”
Sheffield Heeley MP Louise Haigh called the incident “horrific” and stressed the need for answers. “Serious questions will have to be answered about how this could have happened,” she said, pledging to work with the school, police, and council.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson also expressed her devastation over the boy’s death, stating that her office was in contact with the school and local authorities to offer support.
Education Minister Catherine McKinnell echoed the sentiment in the House of Commons, saying, “My heart goes out to his family, friends, and the entire school community at this very distressing time.”
South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard voiced his sorrow, sharing that he had spoken with Chief Constable Lauren Poultney and extended his support.
“This morning a teenage boy went to school like thousands of others across South Yorkshire but won’t come home; a young man who was a member of our community, with his whole life ahead of him,” he said.
A Sheffield-based anti-knife crime campaigner with the charity Always an Alternative, Anthony Olaseinde, described the incident as “heart-breaking.”
Having worked with students at All Saints, he emphasized the need for more resources to support young people.
“I’ve been in the school mentoring with them,” he explained. “We did conflict management sessions. We made a short film raising awareness about knife crime with young people at the school. The young people were really engaged and positive.”
As the community mourns, calls for action against youth violence are growing, with many demanding stronger measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.
