Wolverhampton murder probe: Police ask for support to stamp out knife crime 'epidemic' as victim named
A senior police officer is calling the public to support efforts to stamp out the knife crime "epidemic" as the latest victim was named.
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West Midlands Police named Harleigh Hepworth as the teenager who died in Wolverhampton's West Park on Thursday.
The 17-year-old died a short time after suffering stab wounds during an incident involving "some sort of bladed weapon" at about 4.30pm at the site in West Park Road West.
Wolverhampton Police commander, Ch Supt Richard Fisher, said the situation with stabbings was amounting to an "epidemic" and described Harleigh's death as a "tragic loss of life".
He said it was a fast-moving inquiry and that Harleigh's death was an isolated incident with footage from closed circuit television footage being checked as part of the probe.
"I have police officers in the area providing reassurance and for anyone if you feel concerned come and speak to the local officers. Further to that we are looking to see how we can tackle some of the problems in the area and work in partnership to see how we can tackle the scourge of knife crime and we do not want the lose any more young lives.
