Three teenagers have been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Reuben Higgins, a 17-year-old boy who was brutally attacked while trying to seek refuge in a vape shop in Marston Green, Solihull. The incident occurred last October when Reuben was confronted by a gang of youths who forced their way into the store. During the harrowing ten-second assault, he was stabbed multiple times in the leg, arm, and chest.

Reuben had pleaded for help from the shop staff, expressing his fear that the gang was intent on killing him. Abdurrahman Summers, now 19, along with two 16-year-old boys, who cannot be named due to their age, were found guilty of murder following a trial. A fourth suspect, believed to have initiated the attack and delivered the fatal blow, remains at large.

In Birmingham Crown Court, Judge Paul Farrer, KC, sentenced Summers to a minimum of 19 years in prison. The 16-year-old who inflicted the stab wounds received a minimum term of 17 years, while the other 16-year-old, who assisted in the attack, was given a minimum of 15 years. As he was sentenced, Summers shouted, "I'm still breathing," in a shocking display of insensitivity towards Reuben's grieving family.

The judge described Reuben as vulnerable, stating he was unarmed and attempting to avoid confrontation. In contrast, he noted that all three defendants were armed and had gone out prepared for violence. Prosecutor Richard Atkins KC described the attack as a calculated act of violence, stating that Reuben was "hunted down and killed" by the group.

Summers had a history of criminal behaviour, including six robbery convictions between 2020 and 2022, and previous offences for carrying a blade. One of the younger defendants also had a record of robbery offences involving knives, while the other had a conviction for theft.

In emotional victim impact statements, Reuben's father, Dominic Higgins, expressed his devastation, stating that his son was becoming a man but never had the chance to do so. He described Reuben as his "precious, beautiful boy" and lamented the darkness that now consumed him. Reuben's mother, Sarah Cook, referred to her son as her "best friend" and expressed her profound loss, saying, "A piece of me is now missing."

Reuben's step-mother, Polly Hudson, condemned the actions of the three killers, stating, "You may think your actions make you tough. They didn't. They made you weak." She called for an end to the cycle of violence among young men.

Defence lawyers for the younger defendants argued that their clients had difficult upbringings and were influenced by older peers. One lawyer described the most aggressive attacker as having a "difficult, unstable and nomadic" background, while another highlighted the neurodevelopmental conditions of his client, suggesting he was susceptible to coercion.

Following the murder, Summers attempted to flee to Spain but later turned himself in to authorities. The court proceedings have highlighted the tragic consequences of youth violence and the urgent need for intervention to prevent such incidents in the future.