Woman Stabbed in Birmingham Bus Stop Assault Dies
The female victim stabbed repeatedly in the neck in an unprovoked attack near a bus shelter within Birmingham has passed away, authorities verified.
The victim, aged 34 years, was targeted on Smallbrook Queensway street, just outside the Bullring shopping centre, just prior to 9 PM GMT Friday evening, West Midlands Police said.
Djeison Rafael, twenty-one, appeared before Birmingham Magistrates Court Monday morning, facing charges for the attack.
Originally charged of attempted murder however after the victim's passing charges were upgraded to murder.
Police Response
The force said officers would be around the city centre on Monday to offer reassurance, while detectives assisted the woman's family.
Detectives are appealing any eyewitnesses who may have seen Mr Rafael, identified as a Black British national, reportedly dressed in an all-grey tracksuit, black hat, athletic shoes and rucksack.
Incident Location
The stabbing happened outside Bullring retail complex, across from primary access point of New Street railway station.
Law enforcement confirmed they classified it as "unprovoked attack" with investigators stating efforts continue to determine why it happened.
Witness Accounts
Shalini Doal, who works nearby, described paramedic and police activity when she finished her work period around 10 PM on Friday.
She characterized the location as "quite chaotic", adding that some of her colleagues heard loud disturbances at about 21:00.
"A lot of my colleagues take public transport, take the tram... our security is compromised essentially, here in the city centre."
Another individual, 25, from Stoke-on-Trent, mentioned visiting the city quite frequently to see his girlfriend resident there, expressing concern about what had happened.
"It causes concern for my girlfriend," he said.
"She lacks transportation employed at major concert locations... considering a totally random act occurred, understandably, it's horrible."
