A 15-year-old girl who was tragically killed in a stabbing in Hexham has been named locally as a ‘beautiful’ teenager.
The young girl, named as Holly Newton and also known as Holly Olivia, was stabbed on Friday evening just hours after leaving school.
Friends described Holly Olivia as a ‘beautiful’ girl who loved to dance.
One friend said on Facebook: ‘It’s such a cruel world that we live in. It’s saddens me so much you were taken from us at such a young age.’
Holly Newton (pictured), who is also known as Holly Olivia, was stabbed on Friday evening just hours after leaving school
Friends and family have described Holly Olivia as a ‘beautiful’ girl who loved to dance
A 16-year-old boy remains in custody on suspicion of her murder.
Yesterday family and friends laid messages, floral tributes and teddy bears outside the Halifax bank on Priestpopple in Hexham, Northumberland in a touching tribute.
One message left by loved one reads: ‘All our love to the most beautiful girl in the world. We will miss you forever Holly’.
Another read: ‘To our baby Holly. Our hearts hurt so much right now. We love you so much’.
A GoFundMe page has been set up in memory of Holly, with donations surpassing its £3,000 target in less than a day.
Officers from Northumbria Police were called shortly after 5.10pm on Friday to a report of a teenage boy and girl injured in the Priestpopple area of Hexham.
Floral tributes left at the scene in Hexham, Northumberland yesterday morning after a double stabbing which saw Holly Olivia die from her injuries
A 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of murder having initially been arrested on suspicion of assault
Emergency services attended where the boy, 16, and Holly Olivia suffered serious injuries ‘consistent with having been caused by a bladed article’.
Both teenagers were taken to hospital. Holly Olivia later died that evening while the boy suffered serious, non-life-threatening injuries.
The force said: ‘Both of their families are being supported by specially-trained officers at this devastating time. An investigation was launched, and a 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of assault, and later on suspicion of murder. He remains in police custody.
‘Our thoughts are with all loved ones at this awful time, and we are supporting them in every way we can. We are determined to find out what happened & bring anyone involved to justice.’
Chief Superintendent Sam Rennison, of Northumbria Police, said it is ‘tragic news’ and that police believe all those involved are known to each other.
Specialist search team carry out their investigation at the scene
Police were spotted at the location of the attack alongside ambulance crews on Friday night
At a press conference on Saturday, she said: ‘First and foremost, our hearts go out to her loved ones at this truly devastating time.
‘A 16-year-old boy who was also injured during the incident remains in hospital in a stable condition.
‘He and his family are also very much in our thoughts. An investigation was immediately launched and while this is at the very early stages, we do believe all those involved are known to each other.
‘We would like to thank the public for their continued support and co-operation.
‘In particular, those who tried to provide assistance yesterday to the injured boy and girl at the scene.’
Derek Kennedy, mayor of Hexham, said: ‘It’s an absolute tragedy, the town is in complete shock, to lose one of our children who attends a local high school is just horrendous.
‘Parents are really anxious for the health of their children because they’re all a part of this community, the schools are all really anxious that their children are really feeling the pain and suffering and shock of such an awful incident.
‘In the Hexham community we have a very low crime rate, generally, it’s a community that looks after one another, we were awarded the happiest place to live in Great Britain last year.
‘It’s a very warm and loving community so for a tragedy such as this to happen, we always find it much more difficult and it’s knocked everyone for six.
‘To happen to such a young person and the alleged perpetrator to be a young person, in the high street at 5pm, is just shocking, everyone is just shocked and struggling to come to terms with it, it will ruin so many lives.’
