On-the-run teenager wanted for Small Heath murder arrested in London

A wanted teenager who was on the run has been arrested in London over a brutal murder in Small Heath which took place last December.

The 19-year-old was wanted in connection with the fatal stabbing of Yahya Sharif in Small Heath on 10 December last year.

Yahya, aged 18,  was attacked by a group just before 5.30pm and suffered a fatal stab wound to his chest.

In the early hours of Wednesday morning (16 February) officers from the Met Police arrested a suspect from an address in the Twickenham area of London.

He was detained on suspicion of murder and transported to a police station in the West Midlands for questioning.

A police spokesperson said this was the fifth person to be arrested in connection with the killing of Yahya Sharif.

The four teenagers – three aged 18 and a 19-year-old – have all been charged with murder and are now in prison on remand awaiting trial.

Detective Inspector Hannah Whitehouse, from the Homicide Unit, said: “This is a significant step forward in our enquiries: we suspect this man played a primary role in the murder of Yahya.

“Our enquiries continue but we are not actively looking for anyone else in connection with Yahya’s death.

“I’d like to thank Yahya’s family for their patience and support while our enquiries progressed. This has been a complex investigation to identify and trace the people we believe are responsible but I am pleased we can bring them this latest development.

“And I’d also like to thank members of the public who’ve also helped our investigations and provided us with important information.”

A second teenager, from Birmingham, was also detained alongside the murder suspect and he was arrested on suspicion of knife possession.