Teen gang accused of murdering Reuben Higgins as Britain faces alarming surge in youth knife crime

A wave of grief and fury has swept through Solihull after 17-year-old Reuben Higgins was savagely stabbed to death in a local vape shop—a killing prosecutors described as a “pack attack” by teenage thugs who acted like “wild animals”.

Now standing trial at Birmingham Crown Court are three youths: 18-year-old Abdurrahman Summers and two 15-year-old boys, all accused of hunting down Reuben and delivering a brutal, fatal assault in Marston Green’s Vape Minimarket. The court heard harrowing details of the killing, which unfolded in broad daylight and was partially captured on CCTV.

Reuben, unarmed and terrified, reportedly ran into the vape shop seeking refuge, pleading with a shopkeeper to hide him from his pursuers. But the attackers stormed inside, dragged him up, and unleashed a savage barrage—stabbing him multiple times and kicking him as he lay bleeding on the shop floor. Despite desperate efforts to save him, Reuben died at the scene.

Prosecutors say one of the 15-year-olds has admitted to manslaughter, but all three deny murder. The trial has laid bare the disturbing underworld of knife crime infecting Britain’s youth culture. Jurors were shown footage of Summers waving a large knife and boasting in social media videos—a snapshot of what prosecutors called a “knife-worshipping” culture that glorifies violence and scorns life.

“These three are not prepared to be tested,” said Richard Atkins KC, prosecuting. “Reuben Higgins was hunted down and killed. He begged for mercy and got none. Nothing can explain what they did—except a confession of guilt.”

The accused have all declined to take the stand in their own defence, leaving their silence to speak volumes. Evidence presented by the Crown includes fingerprints, clothing soaked in blood, and video clips where the teens appeared to plan or boast about the stabbing. The court heard that carrying weapons was a badge of honour within their peer group, who viewed violence as a rite of passage.

The judge and jury were visibly shaken as they reviewed footage of the frenzied attack. Witnesses described the attackers’ chilling lack of emotion—laughing and filming before and after the murder. Reuben’s family, sitting through each grim revelation, remained composed but heartbroken.

Community leaders and campaigners say the tragedy highlights a national emergency. Knife crime among under-18s has soared, and this case has reignited calls for tougher sentencing, increased funding for youth services, and urgent intervention in schools.

Locals remember Reuben as a cheerful, football-loving teenager with a kind heart and big dreams. His friends have left flowers outside the vape shop, turning the site of his death into a shrine of remembrance and sorrow. Candlelit vigils have been held across Solihull in his memory, with many calling for justice not just for Reuben—but for all young lives lost to senseless knife violence.

As the trial nears its conclusion, the case has left deep scars on a community now grappling with fear and anger. Parents wonder if their children are safe, while teachers and social workers ask how to reach those falling into gangs and violent subcultures.

The verdict remains pending, but the tragedy of Reuben Higgins is already etched into the hearts of many. His death is not just a courtroom drama—it’s a brutal reminder of a society at breaking point, where teenagers are dying in shops, streets, and parks. And for many, that reality is simply too horrifying to ignore any longer.