Boy, 17, stabbed to death inside vape shop after being chased and attacked by gang, court hears – as suspect flees UK
A BOY was stabbed to death inside a vape shop after being chased and attacked by a gang, a court has heard.
Moments after the fatal knifing, Reuben Higgins, 17, was captured on CCTV pleading with a store worker: “Call an ambulance, I’m dying”.
Three teenagers – Abdurrahman Summers, 18, and two unnamed 15-year-olds – are this week standing trial for murder.
Cops have also identified a fourth suspect who is believed to have fled the country.
Reuben was with friends in Marston Green, West Midlands, when he was approached by a group of similarly aged males at around 6pm on October 29 last year, the prosecution claimed.
Opening the case on Tuesday, prosecutor Richard Atkins KC told Birmingham Crown Court: “Following a short conversation, those three and the missing man chased after Reuben and attacked him.
“The shop was called Vape Minimarket, where Reuben was stabbed four times, receiving fatal injuries from which he died at the scene.
“We say these three and the missing man are guilty of murder.”
Atkins alleged that one of the gang, the missing suspect, accused Reuben of pulling a knife on him leading up to the attack – which Reuben denied.
The same man allegedly asked Reuben to “come around the corner and talk to him, which Reuben said he didn’t want to do”.
The victim’s friends then claim to have seen the man and his group “reach for their waistbands”, causing them to run.
One of the attackers was holding a “Rambo knife”, it was claimed.
Atkins continued: “Reuben ran into Vape Minimarket, obviously scared, and tried to prevent the chasing group from entering by lying down on the floor across the door.
“But it was an unequal contest, four against one, and they forced their way in.”
The shop’s CCTV was angled away from the door – meaning the events were only partially captured.
However, it did reveal one of the 15-year-olds and the missing suspect to be inside, the lawyer claimed.
In the footage, which was played to the court, a pool of blood could seen on the shop floor – before a voice was heard saying “where’s my phone?”
“He’s (Reuben) calling for help. That man (the 15-year-old) did nothing to help,” Atkin said.
“All he wanted was his phone. We suggest that it may tell you quite a lot about what was going on.”
He went on: “They forced the door open, then they attacked Reuben.
“They didn’t just attack him with fists and feet but with a knife or knives and Reuben was stabbed multiple times.
“You can hear some of what was said. Reuben was shouting ‘don’t hit me, don’t hit me’, but they ignored him.”
Reuben sustained a fatal stab wound to the heart, as well as two further stab wounds to the thigh and one to the arm.
One of the wounds penetrated 15cm deep.
Paramedics rushed to the shop, but the 17-year-old had already suffered catastrophic blood loss and sadly died at the scene.
The prosecutor alleged that one of the 15-year-old defendants, who was “very tall”, was the “most aggressive” during the attack.
It was allegedly this same boy who inquired after his phone – before taking Reuben’s instead.
He then caught the wrong bus, taking him past the scene of the crime and necessitating him to crouch down away from the sight of police, the court heard.
Meanwhile, Summers and the missing suspect allegedly caught a bus to London Victoria in the early hours of the following morning.
Summers then attempted to purchase tickets to fly to Spain while the other man fled abroad, it was claimed.
The three defendants were arrested in early November – with one of the 15-year-olds subsequently pleading manslaughter. The prosecution has not accepted the plea.
All three defendants deny any intent to kill or cause serious harm to the teenager.
The trial continues.