A police chief has appealed for information after a teenage boy died of stab wounds following an incident in a North East park on Monday night (October 3).
Northumbria Police Chief Superintendent Helena Barron gave a press briefing at Forth Banks Police Station in Newcastle as a murder investigation is underway following an incident at Whitehills Nature park, in the Springwell area of Gateshead.
A 14-year-old boy was found seriously injured after emergency services were called to the scene at around 8pm. But despite efforts of medical staff he sadly died.
Police have arrested a 14-year-old boy on suspicion of murder, alongside a 13-year-old girl arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. They remain in custody.
Read more: 'Devastation' as young boy, 14, dies after incident at North East park
At the briefing, Chief Superintendent Helena Barron said: “Shortly after 8pm last night, we were contacted by the ambulance service to report that a boy had been seriously injured in the Aycliffe Crescent area of the Springwell Estate in Gateshead.
"Emergency services attended the scene and located the boy who suffered an injury consistent with being caused by a bladed article.
“He was taken to hospital where, despite the best efforts of medical staff, he sadly passed away in the early hours of this morning.
“A murder investigation was immediately launched at this time and as a result, a 14-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of murder and a 13-year-old girl arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.
"Both remain in police custody at this time. We are determined to find out exactly what has happened and a full investigation is ongoing.
“While incidents of this nature are very rare in our region, we do understand the devastating impact this can have on communities and we are committed to bringing those responsible to justice.
“We will have additional police resources in the area today and over the coming days to provide reassurance to our communities and to offer support to all those who have been affected."
She added: “We would ask that the public do not speculate around what has happened and do not use social media to talk about the events from last night or to name any individuals they believe to be involved in the incident because this could impact on the investigation and more importantly could have a devastating impact on the family even further.
“We would ask for the public, and we appeal to the public, that if they do have any information or intelligence relating to the incident that occurred last night, that they do contact the police directly and that they do so via 101, via the website, The Tell Us Something website on our Northumbria Police site.
"People can also speak directly to officers who are out in the communities and we will be back in touch with those people we need to speak to.
“It’s obviously a really tragic incident and like any family they’re truly devastated by what’s happened. We do have additional resources supporting the family.”
More as we have it.
Read next:
- Flowers and tributes after boy, 14, dies following incident at North East park
- Everything we know as police forensics team on scene of North East nature park
- North East incident LIVE: Tragedy as boy, 14, dies - updates here
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