An 18-year-old man was stabbed to death and a lad was seriously injured in a gory ambush while riding in a cab through Leeds.
West Yorkshire Police have started a murder inquiry following the incident in which three people from another car attacked the two teenagers.
One of the taxi customers, Jamie Meah, was rushed to the hospital but was declared deceased shortly afterwards. An inquiry into a homicide has now begun.
The second victim, a 16-year-old male, was taken to the hospital with severe but non-life-threatening injuries.
Jamie was travelling in a taxi with his younger companion during rush hour on Friday when another vehicle stopped the private hire car and the three jumped out to attack its two occupants.
According to the Mail Online, Jamie fled the scene and entered a nearby fish and chip store, where he collapsed and perished from his injuries.
One local recalled with dread how his buddy, the shop’s proprietor, frantically attempted to stop one of the victims’ bleeding after the stabbing.
Dave Richmond told Leeds Live that one of the young men came running in with blood pouring everywhere, catching his buddy in the midst of the “traumatizing” event.
“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.
“Extensive inquiries are being carried out in relation to this murder investigation,” said Senior Investigating Officer Detective Chief Inspector Lee Townley of the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team. “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.”
