- Vigil held for victims of Nottingham attack
- Surveillance footage shows suspect’s suspicious activity
- Tributes paid to caretaker and beloved community member
Students join the families of the two 19-year-old victims at a vigil just one day after their murders, as surveillance footage appears to show the suspect attempting to ascend into a window just before allegedly murdering a school caretaker.
During a vigil for the Nottingham attack victims, the father of Grace O’Malley-Kumar urged students to “watch out for each other.”
With the father of the other deceased pupil placing his hand on his shoulder, Sanjoy Kumar stated, “You have all impacted her life, and thus ours. Never will you be forgotten…”
He stated that it “should never happen to any parent” but thanked the students for what they did for his daughter and Barnaby. And watch out for one another…”
“The love we have out here – I wish we had it everywhere,” he continued.
David Webber, Barnaby’s father, told mourners, “I’m speechless. I have lost my infant son. I cannot even fathom how I will cope with this.”
According to him, his son “loved” college and “couldn’t wait to return.”
I’m sure Barnaby would be incredibly moved by everyone here,” the speaker said, adding that the 19-year-old’s “heart will always be with you guys.
At the vigil held at Nottingham University, friends of the two students joined the family and campus staff.
Members of their respective hockey and cricket teams were also present and deposited flowers.
As Mr. Kumar described his attempts to convince his daughter to return home for a visit, there was even a brief moment of amusement.
“Grace, like Barnaby, loved coming up to Nottingham; in fact, we couldn’t get her to leave,” he explained.
“I told her last week to ‘calm down,’ and she’ll be fine after a few more sessions. I once referred to them as her crisis meetings.”
The two 19-year-olds were stabbed to death in the street early on Tuesday morning, along with Ian Coates, who was discovered a few miles away.
One person is in critical condition after his van was hijacked and used to strike pedestrians in the city center.
A 31-year-old man is being held on suspicion of homicide, and police have an “open mind” regarding the motivation.
CCTV footage shows a man suspected of stabbing Mr. Coates breaking into a homeless shelter nearby.
According to witnesses, the individual arrived shortly after 4 a.m.
A neighbour assaulted him as he tried to climb through an open window.
The man, who was carrying a rucksack, looked for an alternate entrance but ultimately departed and headed towards Magdala Road, where Mr. Coates was later discovered dead.
It is believed the 65-year-old custodian was on his way to work at Huntingdon Academy when he was attacked.
According to his son, he was scheduled to retire in four months but was “still working.”
Lee Coates remarked, “He was a devoted Forest fan and an ardent fisherman… He used to take disadvantaged children fishing to escape crime.
You literally could not find a better man.
His son and grandson had previously left flowers and an old England shirt on the street where we were discovered.
On the shirt was written, “Dad, I love you always and forever, Lee X.”
