Boy, 17, stabbed to death in Solihull vape shop after being chased by group, court told

Abdurrahman Summers, aged 18, along with two 15-year-olds stand trial accused of murdering Reuben Higgins in Marston Green

A 17-year-old boy was stabbed to death in a Solihull vape shop after being chased and attacked by a group of males, a court has heard.

It is alleged Abdurrahman Summers, aged 18, along with two 15-year-old boys, murdered Reuben Higgins at Vape Minimarket in Marston Green on October 29, 2024.

Police have also identified a man as a fourth suspect who has fled the country, it is believed.

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CCTV captured Reuben being pursued into the vape shop and attacked before he was heard pleading 'call an ambulance, I'm dying' to a store worker.

Summers, from Yardley, and the two younger teenagers who cannot be named due to their age, went on trial at Birmingham Crown Court earlier today, Tuesday (April 29).

Prosecutor Richard Atkins KC, opening the case, stated that Reuben was with his friends when four similarly aged males approached them shortly after 6pm on October 29.

He said: "Following a short conversation, those three and the missing man chased after Reuben and attacked him.

"The shop was called Vape Minimarket, where Reuben was stabbed four times, receiving fatal injuries from which he died at the scene.

"We say these three and the missing man are guilty of murder."

Going into more detail, Mr Atkins said it was 'probably' the missing suspect who initially spoke to Reuben and accused him of previously pulling a knife on him, which Reuben denied.

He told the court the same man asked Reuben to 'come around the corner and talk to him, which Reuben said he didn't want to do'.

Mr Atkins continued and said one of Reuben's friends saw the man and his group 'reach for their waistbands, and everyone started running'.

Another of the victim's friends claimed one of the attackers was holding a 'Rambo knife', the court heard.

Mr Atkins went on: "Reuben ran into Vape Minimarket, obviously scared, and tried to prevent the chasing group from entering by lying down on the floor across the door.

"But it was an unequal contest, four against one, and they forced their way in."

He explained the attack was only partially captured on the shop's CCTV camera because it was angled away from the door, but added it was 'clear' that one of the 15-year-olds and the missing adult suspect were inside.

The footage was played on the court screens. After the attack Reuben could be heard repeating the word 'ambulance' before saying to the shop worker 'call an ambulance, I'm dying'.

As he moved position on the floor, a pool of blood could be seen on the ground.

Mr Atkins told the jury that the 15-year-old who was seen inside the shop on camera returned saying 'where's my phone?' because he had dropped it.

He said: "He's (Reuben) calling for help. That man (the 15-year-old) did nothing to help.

"All he wanted was his phone. We suggest that it may tell you quite a lot about what was going on."

Mr Atkins stated that all three defendants left fingerprints on the windows and door of the vape shop.

He continued: "They forced the door open, then they attacked Reuben.

"They didn't just attack him with fists and feet but with a knife or knives and Reuben was stabbed multiple times.

"You can hear some of what was said. Reuben was shouting 'don't hit me, don't hit me', but they ignored him."

Mr Atkins told the court Reuben sustained a fatal stab wound to the heart, two further stab wounds to the thigh which penetrated 15cm and 6cm deep, as well as a 5cm deep wound to the arm.

He said the 17-year-old suffered catastrophic blood loss and lost consciousness.

The prosecutor stated that, according to the shop worker, a 'very tall' male identified as one of the 15-year-old defendants was the 'most aggressive' and stabbed Reuben the most times.

He said it was the same male who came back asking for his phone but he picked up Reuben's mobile instead and left.

The jury was told paramedics attended but Reuben died at the scene, while the attackers fled.

Mr Aktins said the 15-year-old boy accused of being the most aggressive got on the wrong bus, which took him back past the scene prompting him to crouch down and hide from police.

He added Summers and the missing suspect caught a bus at Digbeth Coach Station to London Victoria in the early hours of the following morning.

The prosecutor stated Summers then tried to purchase tickets to fly to Spain while the man flew out of the country and remains abroad.

He confirmed Summers and the two 15-year-old defendants were arrested in early November.

Mr Atkins told the jury that one of the 15-year-olds has since admitted manslaughter but the prosecution had not accepted the plea.

He added all three defendants ultimately denied that they intended to kill or cause really serious harm to Reuben.

The trial continues.