A 16-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a Zimbabwean man was fatally stabbed inside his own flat in the early hours of Tuesday morning in Leeds. The victim, identified as 23-year-old Saymore, was found with fatal injuries at his ground-floor home in the Belle Isle area.
The young man, along with an 18-year-old, was detained after a police helicopter assisted in tracking down the suspects, who had reportedly fled the scene. The two suspects were located in the Middleton area of Leeds and arrested on suspicion of murder and possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.
Saymore was rushed to the hospital but was later declared dead from his injuries. West Yorkshire Police have since launched a murder investigation, with detectives from the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team now leading the case. A forensic examination of the crime scene at Winrose Avenue is ongoing, and police have also set up a second scene at an address in Sissons Road, Middleton, after drugs linked to the arrests were discovered.
Detective Chief Inspector James Entwistle, who is heading the investigation, expressed his condolences to the victim’s family, describing the attack as a tragic and violent vent. He urged anyone who may have witnessed suspicious activity or a disturbance near the address around the time of the attack to come forward with information.
Our investigation remains in its very early stages, and we are still building up a picture of the circumstances in which this young man has been fatally attacked,” Entwistle said. His death, in such a sudden and violent way, is an absolute tragedy. We are continuing to support his family at this very difficult time.
The police are particularly keen to hear from anyone who may have CCTV or doorbell footage that could be relevant, as well as any dashcam footage from drivers in the area at the time of the incident. Officers have also begun house-to-house enquiries in the local area.
We recognise that people in the community will be shocked by what has happened, and I want to reassure them that we are treating this incident very seriously, said Entwistle. We are liaising closely with our district policing colleagues, who will maintain an increased presence in the area to provide reassurance.
The police investigation is ongoing, and authorities have urged the public to come forward with any information that could help them piece together the events leading up to the fatal stabbing.
