Girlfriend of Huddersfield stabbing victim Khayri McLean who was killed outside school pays tearful tribute

22 September 2022, 13:37 | Updated: 22 September 2022, 16:51

THE girlfriend of a teenager stabbed to death outside his school said her heart shattered when she heard he died.

Tearful Shyana James, 16, called Khayri McLean “a really nice boy” and said: “I can’t think of any reason why someone would do this to him.”

Khayri died yesterday after he was said to have been held down and and knifed by a masked attacker near North Huddersfield Trust School.

Shyana, who dated him for six months but knew him for five years, said: ”Khayri was a really nice boy. I met him through school.

“I was in college and my friend was on a bus coming home and she told me, she phoned me and told me Khayri had been stabbed,” she said.

“My heart just shattered. I phoned a taxi from town and came up, but it was taped up and I couldn’t do anything.

“I saw Khayri on the pavement with the paramedics working on him and then when the air ambulance took him to Leeds General Infirmary my mum drove me there.

“I have no idea why he has been stabbed. I can’t think of any reason why someone would do this to him.”

A teacher desperately tried to save a 15-year-old boy's life after he was knifed to death by a 'masked killer'. The staff member frantically performed CPR on Khayri McLean after he had been attacked near to his school gates shortly before 3pm.

Witnesses say the lad was pinned down and knifed near the gates of North Huddersfield Trust School shortly before 3pm on Wednesday in front of horrified pupils.

West Yorkshire Police said they were called at around 2.54pm and arrived to find a boy had been seriously assaulted outside the school gates.

He was rushed to Leeds General Infirmary but died as a result of his injuries, prompting detectives to launch a murder investigation.

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A 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of murder at around 5am on Thursday, at a property in the Bradley area of Huddersfield.

West Yorkshire Police said: "The youth was arrested at an address in Huddersfield shortly before 5am this morning in connection with the incident in Woodhouse Hill, Fartown, yesterday afternoon.

"He remains in custody and enquiries are ongoing led by detectives from West Yorkshire Police Homicide and Major Enquiry Team."

Officers were called at 2.54pm to Woodhouse Hill in Fartown, where the boy was treated.

The attack took place close to the entrance of North Huddersfield Trust School.

He was taken to Leeds General Infirmary for emergency surgery but later pronounced dead.

Senior investigating officer Detective Superintendent Marc Bowes said: "Our investigation is still at a very early stage, and we will be carrying out extensive inquiries to establish the full circumstances surrounding this incident that has resulted in the absolutely senseless loss of a young life.

"We recognise that an incident of this nature will cause understandable shock and concern in the community, and we are working closely alongside our colleagues at Kirklees district who are increasing their presence in the area to reassure people and keep them updated as our investigation progresses.

"We have already identified a number of witnesses to the incident itself but would still like to hear from anyone who has any information that could assist the investigation."

Anyone with information is asked to contact HMET detectives via 101 or online at www.westyorkshire.police.uk/101livechat quoting crime reference 13220521713.