Face of stab victim

Jul 18 2007

THIS is 21-year-old Uriel Johnson who died following a violent street attack in the Black Country.

His family have today released this picture of him in the hope it will encourage anyone with information to come forward.

But police said relatives were not making any statement about the tragedy at this stage.

Detectives yesterday announced they had launched a murder inquiry following his death.

He died in hospital 10 days after being stabbed in Wellington Road, Bilston, on July 3.

A post mortem examination showed he lost his fight for life as a result of the stab wound. He died on Friday.

The motive behind the attack is not clear and detectives say they are keeping an "open mind".

It is thought Mr Johnson was being chased just moments before he was stabbed and ran into a shop, Cheema Wines, saying he was being pursued.

He died after a confrontation with another man and was found collapsed in nearby Hadley Road.

He was take to New Cross Hospital and his condition at the time was described as "critical".

Officers sealed off the residential street and carried out house-to-house inquiries. The wine shop was also sealed off.

Police investigations were today continuing into the incident. No arrests have been made at this stage.

Anyone with information is urged to contact officers in the incident room on 0845 113 5000 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.