Police have identified the university student who was stabbed to death in Leicester as 20-year-old Khalid Oladipo.
Oladipo, from London, who was studying cyber security at De Montfort University, died in hospital after the incident in the city centre, police said.
An 18-year-old youth has been arrested and remanded in custody on suspicion of murder.
Officials said that the postmortem revealed that Oladipo died due to a chest injury.
His family described the 20-year-old as a “much-loved son, brother, uncle, boyfriend and friend” in a statement released by Leicestershire Police.
“Khalid is a good boy who loves his family. He is in his second year at university, and we are very proud of him,” they said. “One of his main hobbies was football and he played from the age of four. He was an Arsenal supporter and we believe he was on his way home to watch the game that night when he was stabbed.”
Oladipo’s family thanked emergency services for “stopping trying to help Khalid” as well.
“We are struggling to understand why anyone would do this. We know justice for Khalid will not bring him back, but we will make sure he gets the justice he deserves,” the statement concluded.
Police and emergency services were called to reports of a man collapsed just after 5pm on Tuesday. They then received information that the man had been stabbed.
East Midlands Ambulance Service took Oladipo to Leicester Royal Infirmary, where he died a short time later.
In a statement yesterday, Professor Katie Normington, DMU vice-chancellor, said the university was “devastated”. “Our thoughts are with everyone affected by what happened,” she said. “We are providing direct support to students, staff and the victim’s family.”
Officials said a preliminary investigation revealed Oladipo had gotten into an argument with another man on the street, and he left before police arrived.
The incident caused major disruption in the city and several roads were closed as forensic and search experts conducted examinations.
