Murder probe as man stabbed to death in Halesowen street
A murder investigation is underway after a man was stabbed to death in a Black Country street.
The 34-year-old man, who is yet to be named but lived in the local area, died in Halesowen after being attacked at around 1.30am on Sunday.
He was pronounced dead at the scene in Springfield Drive, which remains closed 12 hours later.
Interactive map of the area:
Parts of Springfield Road and Greenhill Road, which are connected by Springfield Drive, are also closed while forensic investigators examine the area.
Springfield Road is shut between Long Lane and Olive Hill Road.
The attack happened less than a mile away from Beech Avenue in Blackheath, where a 21-year-old man was seriously injured when he was stabbed in the back 10 days ago.
Detective Inspector Caroline Corfield, from West Midlands Police's homicide unit, said: “We believe the man was attacked around 1.30am this morning and I am appealing for anyone with information to contact us.
“We understand that the road closures in place will create disruption for local residents, but I ask that you bear with us while we try to establish how this man has met his death.
“His family have been informed and we are supporting them after receiving such tragic news.
“If anyone has CCTV or dash-cam footage which they believe could help our investigation, I would urge them to contact us as soon as possible.”
Quiet
Kevan Harrold, a resident of Long Lane for 50 years, said he hoped somebody would be arrested soon.
The 56-year-old said: "We had a stabbing not long ago in Beech Avenue around the corner.
"I've lived here for 50 years but it's taken a turn for the worse recently, it used to be a lovely area.
"I hope that police arrest somebody quickly."
One resident, who lives on Greenhill Road and wished to remain anonymous, described Springfield Drive as a 'really quiet' road.
They said: "Something woke me up in the early hours of the morning - I heard a noise, like a door slamming.
"I went back to sleep and woke up to all the blue lights flashing. This was about 2.50am and there was a police van and forensics in white overalls at that point. The police tape was already blocking the road.
"Then when I got up this morning the police were still blocking the road off.
"It is just something you don't expect to see - it is a nice area. There's been nothing like this before as it is a fairly quiet area.
"That road is only like a cut through it does not lead anywhere. It is a really quiet road, only the people who go down there are the ones who live there."
Bill Butler, a technical manager who has lived on the corner of Springfield Drive for 20 years, added: “I didn’t realise anything significant had happened until I woke up this morning at around 7am. Then I could see police cordons outside the house, a van and police car.
“It’s sad to think that such an incident has happened in a usually quiet area.”
West Midlands Police can be contacted online at west-midlands.police.uk between 8am and midnight or by calling 101 anytime. Alternatively Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.
