Birmingham stabbing victim Jacob Billington, 23, was 'the light of our life' says family...
The family of a man murdered in a rampaging knife attack in Birmingham at the weekend have paid tribute to “the light of their life” and have said he was loved by everyone he met.
Jacob Billington, 23, had been with a group of school friends from Liverpool enjoying a reunion, when he was stabbed in a random attack, which left seven other people injured.
Another member of the group, also 23, was seriously injured in the attack and remained in a critical condition in hospital last night.
In a statement, Mr Billington’s devastated family said he was a wonderful person who lit up every room with his humour and personality.
They said: “Jacob was the light of our life and we have been devastated by his loss. He was a funny, caring and wonderful person who was loved by every single person he met.
“He lit up every room with his boundless energy and witty humour and the loss of such a special person will be felt by all who knew him for years to come.”
Mr Billington and his companions had been visiting a former school friend, who is studying in Birmingham, when they were approached by an attacker armed with a knife in the Irving Street area of the city.
During a two hour rampage, the attacker also left a 30-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman in a critical condition, and injured four others.
A huge manhunt was launched with West Midlands Police issuing a description and CCTV footage of the suspect on Sunday evening.
A 27-year-old man was eventually arrested at 4am on Monday when armed police raided a house in the Selly Oak area of Birmingham.
He remained in custody last night where he was being questioned on suspicion of murder and seven counts of attempted murder.
Three other people, two men and a woman, were arrested from the same address on suspicion of assisting an offender.
Chief Superintendent Steve Graham said: “Our thoughts and sympathies are with Jacob’s family and friends after receiving such shocking news, particularly for those who were sharing their night out with him.
“It’s utterly shocking that a friends’ reunion should end so brutally.
Khalid Mahmood, the Labour MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, criticised West Midlands police for failing to apprehend the attacker during the rampage, suggesting Mr Billington’s life might had been saved if they had acted quicker.
But Dave Thompson, the force’s Chief Constable hit out at what he said was an "ill-informed critique" of his officers' response.
He said there would be a "time and place to review the actions" of police.
But he added: "Engaging in an ill-informed critique of this investigation, particularly at such an early stage, is both unhelpful and simply makes the job of the police harder.”
https://uk.yahoo.com/news/birmingham...162725312.html