Third youth held over man's death

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A third teenager has been arrested over the murder of a father-of-one who was stabbed to death outside his home.

An 18-year-old was arrested on Sunday over the death of Kevin Johnson, 22, who died in Partick Road, Sunderland, in the early hours of Saturday.

Two other teenage boys, aged 16 and 17, had been arrested on Saturday. All three remain in police custody.

Mr Johnson's death is being linked with a series of incidents involving three youths, including another stabbing.

The father leaves a 26-year-old partner, who is not being named, and a seven-month-old son Chase.

The latest arrest, in Sunderland, followed an appeal by police for an unnamed 18-year-old to turn himself in.

SATURDAY MORNING ATTACKS 0025 BST Kevin Johnson stabbed in Partick Road0027 BST Disturbance in Geddes Street0030 BST Man stabbed in Galway Square0203 BST Shell garage damaged in Broadway

Detectives also want to speak to anyone in the Pennywell or Grindon area who may have had items of clothing stolen from their washing lines between midnight and 0900 BST on Saturday.

Police were called to the scene of the attack on Mr Johnson at 0025 BST on Saturday.

There were also reports of other incidents in the area in the early hours of Saturday, including a man in his 20s being stabbed in the chest in Galway Square. His injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

Magistrates granted police a further 36 hours to question the 16 and 17-year-olds on Sunday evening, Northumbria Police said.

The force has said there is not a knife culture in its area, even though Saturday's incident is the third fatal stabbing across the region this month.