A 15-year-old boy has died after being set upon by a group of youths near a school in broad daylight.
Witnesses in the Handsworth area of Birmingham heard gunshots and say the suspects were armed with guns and knives.
The gang then fled in a white Ford C-Max, and crashed the car into a house a short distance away, fleeing the scene on foot.
Resident Majid Khan said: ‘If this had happened years ago people would be in shock.
‘But it’s happening in broad daylight and people’s reactions are as if it’s part of life in Birmingham. People were out filming things and not worried.’
Police rushed to the scene shortly after the attack at 3.30pm yesterday but no arrests have been made yet.
The boy was taken to hospital but died from his injuries a short time later.
West Midlands Police’s Detective Chief Inspector Alastair Orencas said: ‘This level of violence in broad daylight on a residential street is inconceivable, let alone the fact that the target was a 15-year-old boy.
‘We are leaving no stone unturned in our search for those responsible and I ask anyone who knows who they are to contact us.
‘The family of the boy has had the worst shock imaginable today and we have specialist officers with them in their time of grief.’
Forensic officers were seen last night combing the scene for clues, while police officers checked CCTV and made door-to-door inquiries.
Detectives have also seized he crashed car for further examination.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.