Neighbours of a 10-year-old girl whose death is being treated as murder have paid tribute to her and placed flowers and toys near her home.
The schoolgirl, named locally as Shay, was pronounced dead at the scene after emergency services were called to a terraced house on the Brickhouse estate in Rowley Regis, West Midlands, on Monday.
A 33-year-old woman, understood by police to be known to the girl, was arrested and taken into custody for questioning on suspicion of murder.
Flowers, notes, cards and toys have been placed at the entrance to Robin Close, where the girl was found “with injuries” at about 12.10pm.
One card read “You will be soo missed by everyone, rest easy princess” while another said “Shay you will be forever missed and always in our thoughts.”
A neighbour of the child said she had seen ambulances at the scene on Monday, but had not witnessed the arrest of a woman in the cul-de-sac.
The female resident, who asked not to be named, also said she had not seen Shay for a long period, but other neighbours had reported seeing her playing in the street with other children at the weekend.
The woman said: “They (police) have not told us anything. We only found out what happened on the news.
“You just don’t think anything like this is going to happen on your doorstep.
“It’s just absolutely heartbreaking what has happened.”
Neighbours said the youngster lived at the address with her mother and was often seen playing in the road with other local children.
“She was a happy little girl,” another local resident said. “She used to play with other children on a mattress or a settee. It’s absolutely awful news that she has died.”
#UPDATE | The woman remains in custody today while our enquiries continue.
We remain at the scene, and anyone with information has been asked to get in touch via 101 or Live Chat. https://t.co/EZSpF7Jyzu
— West Midlands Police (@WMPolice) March 5, 2024
In a statement issued on Monday, Detective Inspector Dan Jarratt, of West Midlands Police, said: “A young girl has tragically lost her life and our thoughts are with her loved ones and all those impacted by this terrible passing.
“We know how shocking and distressing this will be for the community and we’ll continue to have a police presence and offer our support in the area over the coming days.
“A suspect has been arrested and detectives are fully investigating the circumstances around this sad death.”
In an update posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday, West Midlands Police said: “The woman remains in custody today while our inquiries continue.
“We remain at the scene, and anyone with information has been asked to get in touch via 101 or Live Chat.”