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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Youth club stab victim identified | Youth club stab victim identified |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A 16-year-old boy fatally stabbed outside a youth club on Merseyside has been identified by police. | A 16-year-old boy fatally stabbed outside a youth club on Merseyside has been identified by police. |
| Joseph Lappin was with friends outside Shrewsbury House Youth Club in Everton, Liverpool, on Monday night when they were confronted by up to 15 youths. | Joseph Lappin was with friends outside Shrewsbury House Youth Club in Everton, Liverpool, on Monday night when they were confronted by up to 15 youths. |
| Detectives said the three friends were attacked after a short chase on foot. | |
| Two teenage boys have been arrested on suspicion of murder, but police have said they are still hunting others in connection with the attack. | |
| Detectives stressed they were also still looking for other youths who may have witnessed the stabbing at about 2040 BST. | |
| A second boy, aged 17 and from Old Swan, also suffered stab injuries but his condition is not thought to be life-threatening. | A second boy, aged 17 and from Old Swan, also suffered stab injuries but his condition is not thought to be life-threatening. |
| The parents of this boy have been informed and are, as you can imagine, distraught by what has happened Ch Supt Steve Watson, Merseyside Police £3m pledged to tackle knife crime | |
| A third boy suffered only minor injuries. | A third boy suffered only minor injuries. |
| It is thought the three friends were waiting for their lift home when they were attacked. | |
| They had been to the Monday Night Music Club, which is attended by youngsters from all over Liverpool who are learning to play instruments. | They had been to the Monday Night Music Club, which is attended by youngsters from all over Liverpool who are learning to play instruments. |
| Ch Supt Steve Watson of Merseyside Police said: "The three victims had gathered outside the front of the club and were approached by a sizeable group of youths, about 10 to 15 in strength. | Ch Supt Steve Watson of Merseyside Police said: "The three victims had gathered outside the front of the club and were approached by a sizeable group of youths, about 10 to 15 in strength. |
| "The youths, without provocation, proceeded after a short foot chase to attack the three individuals. We believe there were two main offenders among the group of youths. | "The youths, without provocation, proceeded after a short foot chase to attack the three individuals. We believe there were two main offenders among the group of youths. |
| "One, certainly, has wielded a knife and what we are left with is a very tragic incident in which a 16-year-old boy has lost his life. | "One, certainly, has wielded a knife and what we are left with is a very tragic incident in which a 16-year-old boy has lost his life. |
| "The parents of this boy have been informed and are, as you can imagine, distraught by what has happened." | "The parents of this boy have been informed and are, as you can imagine, distraught by what has happened." |
| Ch Supt Watson said about 60 youngsters attended the youth club. | Ch Supt Watson said about 60 youngsters attended the youth club. |
| It is unclear whether the gang of offenders had also been inside the club before the attack. | It is unclear whether the gang of offenders had also been inside the club before the attack. |
| No motive | |
| He said: "A number of people are helping with inquiries but there are also a number of people on the periphery of this incident that we want to speak to." | He said: "A number of people are helping with inquiries but there are also a number of people on the periphery of this incident that we want to speak to." |
| He dismissed suggestions the murder could be connected to gang-related incidents in Liverpool and added the club had never given police cause for concern. | He dismissed suggestions the murder could be connected to gang-related incidents in Liverpool and added the club had never given police cause for concern. |
| "The staff there are committed to the welfare of the young people who attend and actively engage with the youngsters successfully," he said. | "The staff there are committed to the welfare of the young people who attend and actively engage with the youngsters successfully," he said. |
| "This part of Everton is not what you would describe as a hotspot for crime or anti-social behaviour. | "This part of Everton is not what you would describe as a hotspot for crime or anti-social behaviour. |
| "It's early days and we don't know what the motive was." | "It's early days and we don't know what the motive was." |
| He was just an everyday cracking lad who wanted to be a part of everything Major Tony Kirkpatrick, Merseyside Army Cadet Force | |
| Shrewsbury House is attached to the Church of England's St Peter's Church but is managed by its own board of trustees. | Shrewsbury House is attached to the Church of England's St Peter's Church but is managed by its own board of trustees. |
| In a statement issued by the Diocese of Liverpool, the Rector of St Peter's, the Reverend Henry Corbett, said: "The whole community are shocked and saddened by these stabbings. | In a statement issued by the Diocese of Liverpool, the Rector of St Peter's, the Reverend Henry Corbett, said: "The whole community are shocked and saddened by these stabbings. |
| "We will be doing all we can to help the police with their inquiries but at this moment our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims." | "We will be doing all we can to help the police with their inquiries but at this moment our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims." |
| A number of people have placed flowers close to the scene of the attack where Joseph, a member of the Merseyside Army Cadet Force, died. | |
| Major Tony Kirkpatrick, cadet executive officer, said the Army's thoughts were with his family. | |
| "He was just an everyday cracking lad who wanted to be a part of everything," said the major. | |
| "Joey would put his heart and soul into everything he did. We will all miss him tremendously." |