Murder probe launched after man stabbed to death in Wolverhampton

A murder investigation has been launched after a man was stabbed to death in Wolverhampton.

Three men have been arrested on suspicion of murder after the victim, aged in his 30s, was found dead in Raven Crescent, Ashmore Park.

Police were called to reports of a 'disturbance' at 5.15am today.

Detectives say they are investigating a possible link to a Land Rover Freelander that was on fire nearby.

The three men were arrested nearby.

A neighbour, who wished to stay anonymous, said: “I woke up to some loud pops and bangs and thought it was gun shots at first.

“I then saw flames and immediately called the fire brigade, I couldn’t see where the fire was from where I was, but could see the flames.

“Two fire engines arrived, ambulances were on the scene and there must have been about 15 police cars all up the road, you couldn’t move around here.

“Armed police arrived too.

“It’s shocking what has happened, hopefully this puts an end to it all and people stop this violence.”

Raven Crescent is almost completely cordoned off with roads closed, blocking access to cars.

The cordon stretches from the entrance to Raven Crescent, closest to Kitchen Lane, and across all access points along Baylis Avenue.

There is still access to Howard Road and Birch Road that come off Raven Crescent.

Devastated friends and family visited the scene and it is believed that the victim was a father.

An interactive map of the scene

Police crime scene investigators and forensic officers were working at the scene.

A blue police tent appeared to be positioned outside a semi-detached house on the street.

Another tent was erected nearby with officers working underneath gathering evidence.

The road, which is surrounded by a green, was closed with a police incident support unit parked up close by.

Another car, a white saloon, was also being looked at by officers.

A blue sheet had been pulled across its windscreen.

Superintendent Matt Markham, from West Midlands Police Force CID, said: “This murder investigation is at a really early stage and we are still trying to build a picture of exactly what happened.

“We’ve made swift progress in arresting three men, but we still want to hear from people who were in the area at the time.

“We know a number of people heard what they thought were gunshots in the area, but we now believe that this may be down to the car that was on fire at the scene.”

Police are expected to remain at the scene throughout the day.

Wolverhampton North East Emma Reynolds spoke of her shock at the fatal stab attack.

She wrote on Twitter: "This is shocking. Thoughts are with the victim’s loved ones. Will be speaking to police ASAP."

Anyone with information has been asked to contact police via Live Chat at west-midlands.police.uk between 8am and midnight.

People can also contact 101, quoting log 344 of October 12, or Crimestoppers anonymously 0800 555 111.

Midlands rocked by violence

The latest fatal stabbing comes after a series of high-profile violent attacks.

Less than 36 hours before the stabbing in Wolverhampton, a man was shot in a car in Smethwick.

A 39-year-old man, who was sat in a car on Oldbury Road, suffered an ear injury.

The incident happened at around 10.30pm on Wednesday.

Last week, a man was left in a critical condition after being chased and stabbed in the stomach and chest in a 'shocking' attempted car jacking in Selly Oak.

And just days beforehand, a mass fight broke out in Birmingham city centre which left three teenagers with stab wounds.

Trouble flared on the High Street, in Dale End, near McDonald's, just before 5.45pm on Tuesday, October 2.

Two men, aged 18 and 19, suffered knife injuries to the arm and leg, respectively, and a 17-year-old was stabbed in the chest.

Figures show there are around fifty-five knife crimes in the West Midlands every week – almost one every three hours.

The region’s police force revealed there were 1,221 incidents involving blades in the first five months of this year.

Fatal knife attacks include teenager Keelan Wilson, above, who was stabbed to death in Wolverhampton in May.