Leo Ross, 12, killed in stabbing set to be laid to rest as school closes for day and community in Shirley comes together
A community will fall silent as Leo Ross is taken on one last ride before being laid to rest.
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The cortege for the 12-year-old, who died after being fatally stabbed in Hall Green on January 21, will travel first to Christ Church Secondary Academy, where he was a pupil, at 8am on Wednesday.
The academy in Yardley Wood will be closed for the day to allow the community to come and pay their respects to Leo, before the funeral takes place at Robin Hood Cemetery on Streetsbrook Road in Shirley at 10am.
The school put out a message on its website to advise parents and carers of the closure.
The message read: "Dear parents and carers. Reminder school is closed on Wednesday March 5 so the whole school community can pay their respects to Leo Ross."
Timothy Huxtable, councillor for Hall Green South, will be among those attending the funeral.
He said: "I will be honoured to attend Leo's funeral, standing in unity with his friends and family, and showing the impact his death has had on the whole community.
"I also want to highlight again the incredible fundraising efforts for the Daniel Baird Foundation that his family have channelled their grief into in the hope that no one else will have to die in similar circumstances."
Residents in Hall Green were also informed on social media from Leo's family member Amy Weston about the funeral and thanked for the kind messages and support.
The message read: "Little Leo Ross’s funeral is on Wednesday, March 5.
"Leo will be doing his final journey past his bedroom on Barton Lodge Road at 7.30am. All welcome.
"We anticipate quite a bit of traffic so if you do live on Barton Lodge, please be mindful of the hearses getting down the road.
"Also please allow for delays etc.
"Mum would like to thank everyone for being so kind, all the flowers, gestures and messages. We appreciate it, thank you."
A 14-year-old boy is due to appear at Birmingham Crown Court on April 22 to enter pleas to charges of murdering Leo on January 21, possession of a bladed article, and four counts of assault.
