A 15-year-old boy has been charged with murder following the fatal stabbing of Harvey Willgoose, 15, at All Saints Catholic High School in Sheffield, England. The suspect, who cannot be named due to his age, also faces charges of possessing a bladed article and one count of affray, as the Crown Prosecution Service announced on February 4, 2025.
The violence erupted during lunch hour on February 3, around 12:17 pm. Twelve-year-old Rylan Henley-Smith witnessed the attack from the dinner hall. “I looked outside and saw someone holding their chest with blood everywhere,” he said. “I didn’t want to stand there because I knew it wasn’t safe, so I grabbed my friend and some other people and ran outside and went to the sports hall.”
The school swiftly enacted lockdown procedures, keeping students inside their classrooms for over two hours. Thirteen-year-old Gracie Talbot recounted that she and her classmates remained confined, unable to contact their parents to reassure them of their safety. Her mother, Katie, expressed the distress that all parents face during the ordeal, describing it as a terrifying experience. She struggled to reach her daughter directly despite reassurances from teachers that the students were safe. She emphasized parents’ deep concern in such moments, as their children are their most treasured priority.
The attack had particular significance as All Saints had implemented a previous lockdown on January 29 due to “threats of violence” between a small number of students.
In a statement released through South Yorkshire police, the family expressed their devastation: “We are utterly heartbroken at the loss of our beautiful boy, ‘Harvey Goose’. Our lives are devastated and will never be the same again. We have lost a beloved son, brother, grandson, cousin, nephew, and most importantly, a best friend to all.”
Harvey’s sister Sophie expressed her devastation online, describing her heartbreak as overwhelming in the wake of her brother’s death. She conveyed her deep love for him in her message. Their mother, Caroline, shared a collection of photos, accompanied by a brief yet poignant tribute, emphasizing the depth of her loss without needing further words.
The day after the attack, Harvey’s parents, sister, and other family members visited the school to view the growing memorial of tributes. Among them was a customized Sheffield United flag from Rylan Henley-Smith, honoring Harvey’s passion for the football club. Sheffield United began discussing creating a permanent tribute while the Bishop of Hallam announced a special mass would be held for the young victim.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer addressed Parliament about the tragedy, stating, “Schools should be places of safety and learning, not violence and fear.”
The incident occurs against a backdrop of growing concerns about youth violence in England and Wales. Government data reveals 19,903 possession of a knife or offensive weapon offenses in the year to June 2024, with 18% involving children aged 10 to 17. Hospital records from 2023/24 show that 3,900 knife crime victims required consultant care, including 192 children under 16 and 463 teenagers aged 16 to 18.