'I told him to stay with us': Woman cradled boy as he and other teenager died after they were stabbed in Bristol
29 January 2024, 07:26 | Updated: 29 January 2024, 07:28
A woman who cradled a teenage boy in her arms as he died after he and another teenage boy were stabbed in Bristol told him to "stay with us".
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Police have launched a murder investigation after Max Dixon, 16, and Mason Rist, aged 16, were attacked at around 11:20pm on Saturday on Ilminster Avenue, in south Bristol.
Police said the attack was carried out by several people. Officers have so far arrested a man, 44, and a teenage boy, 15. They are both being held in police custody. A vehicle has also been seized.
A woman described how she ran out into the street as she heard a commotion after coming home from her own son's birthday party.
She said: "I heard a voice out the front of the house and I saw one car parked at the top of the road and another sort of in the middle of the road.
"A kid just got in the car and slammed the door shut, then I saw one of the boys walking across the road and fall flat on his face," the woman told Sky News.
"I just ran over to him to comfort him because I didn't want him to be on his own. I had his head in my lap, telling him to stay with us, and just cradled him."
The woman said she knew him, and he was "a good boy, not a troublemaker at all". The woman said he spoke a few words, including his name, but "couldn't make out much else of what he was trying to say".
She added that "he was completely white".
Both boys died in hospital in the early hours of Sunday morning. A vigil was held locally on Sunday evening to commemorate their deaths.
Bristol Commander Supt Mark Runacres said: “This is an incredibly shocking and tragic incident where two young boys, who had their whole lives ahead of them, have sadly died.
“Our collective thoughts are with their families at what is undoubtedly a very difficult time. Specialist family liaison officers will now be assigned to the families to provide them with support and keep them updated on the investigation.
“A cordon is in place on Ilminster Avenue between Newquay Road and Tavistock Road, and members of the public can expect to see a large police presence as forensic searches and other enquiries are conducted.
“There are a significant number of properties within the cordon and we would like to apologise for the disruption caused, but we hope people understand the importance of the work being carried out.
“House-to-house enquiries are underway and CCTV and doorbell footage continues to be gathered."
Mr Runacres said detectives are keen to speak with passengers that were "on a bus which was on Ilminster Avenue at the time of the incident".
"We encourage anyone with any concerns or questions to speak to any of the officers. High-visibility patrols will also be carried out to provide reassurance to the community," he finally added.
