'We are all broken now forever': Family of Darlaston stabbing victim pay tribute
The family of a man who died after being stabbed in Darlaston have said they have "lost their spark for life" in an emotional tribute.
Shane Mayer, from Wolverhampton, was stabbed in the leg during a fight on Forge Road last Wednesday and died from his injuries in hospital on Saturday.
A post mortem examination was expected to take place on Tuesday.
The 21-year-old's family have spoken of their devastation at his loss.
They said: "Our Shane, the ache in our hearts is unexplainable; we are all broken now forever. We have not only lost our son, his sister has lost her only brother.
"His family have lost their spark for life. Shane meant the world to all of us. We were a team and it's been destroyed and taken from us so soon."
The family continued: “Shane was the life of this family. He kept us all entertained hours on end with his sarcastic ways, his huge sense of humour and his massive heart that captured us all.
"He was his mother’s keeper, his dad’s soldier and the one that made us all feel safe and protected.
"He absolutely loved life, he had many best friends and loved to travel to many places and still had so much more life to live. He loved everyone and everyone loved him.
"There’s just so many questions of why, how, who - we just cannot come to terms with it.
“All we want now is justice for our son, he never deserved this one bit.
"Our Shane would never have done this to anyone in his life and would have helped anyone that went through that tragic ordeal as well.
"Walking round with knives for protection or to intend to hurt someone isn’t clever when you feel the pain our family is all feeling today.”
Two men, both aged 18, were arrested over the weekend on suspicion of murder – one has been released on police bail and the other has been released without charge.
A 19-year-old man who handed himself into police on Friday and was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder has been released on police bail.
A 21-year-old man who was arrested at the scene on suspicion of affray has been released while inquiries continue.
Detective Inspector Caroline Corfield, from the force’s homicide team, said: “Our thoughts are with Shane’s family as yet another young man loses his life to knife crime.
“We are determined to bring Shane’s killer to justice and we continue to ask anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to get in touch with us.”
A fundraising page launched on Sunday has raised more than £2,400 towards Mr Mayer's funeral costs.
Police can be contacted via Live Chat at west-midlands.pnn.police.uk between 8am and midnight or on 101 anytime quoting log number 3207 of July 24. Information can also be given to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
