This is the tragic student stabbed to death in the street outside a busy university building.
Khaleed Oladipo, 20, a second-year student at De Montfort University in Leicester, was attacked just after 5pm on Tuesday evening.
In a heartbreaking tribute, his family said that Khaleed was on his way home to watch Arsenal in the Carabao Cup semi-final against Chelsea.
Khaleed started at the university in September 2024, studying cybersecurity, and was a talented footballer from South London.
In tribute, Mr Oladipo’s family said: ‘We cannot begin to put into words how sad we are to have lost Khaleed. He was an extremely loved son, brother, uncle, boyfriend and friend.
‘Khaleed was a good boy who loved his family. He was in his second year at university, and we were so proud of him.
‘One of his main passions was football and he had played since the age of four.
‘He was an Arsenal supporter and we believe he was on his way home to watch the game later that night when he was stabbed and killed.
Khaleed Oladipo, 20, a second-year student at De Montfort University in Leicester, was attacked just after 5pm on Tuesday evening
The De Montfort University student was found with knife wounds, just feet away from the university’s Journalism and Media department building. Pictured: Police forensics at the scene on Wednesday
An 18-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of murder is in police custody. Pictured: The scene at the campus of De Montfort University in Leicester
The family also thanked medics and members of the public who tried to save Khaleed’s life.
‘We want to thank the members of the public who stopped to try and help Khaleed and the ambulance service and hospital staff who did all they could to try and save him.
‘We are also really grateful to the police for their efforts in the investigation so far to ensure the person responsible is brought to justice.
‘We are struggling to understand why anyone would do this. We know getting justice for Khaleed will not bring him back but we will make sure that he gets the justice he deserves.’
De Montford University vice-chancellor Katie Normington said the killing of student Khaleed Oladipo was a ‘tragedy… deeply felt across our campus’.
She said: ‘A family has lost a beloved member and all our hearts go out to them. This tragedy is deeply felt across our campus and the city.
‘Khaleed was a member of our DMU community and we know this loss will be particularly difficult for those who knew him. We are directly supporting students who studied with Khaleed, as well as all our students and staff who feel this loss.
‘As a university we create opportunities for people to achieve, and seeing that cut off so tragically is devastating for all of us.’
The investigation into Mr Oladipo’s death continues, with extensive enquiries being carried out.
A post-mortem examination has been carried out and found that Mr Oladipo died as a result of a stab wound to the chest.
An 18-year-old arrested on suspicion of his murder remains in police custody.
A friend told the Daily Mail: ‘Khaleed was a great guy, he wasn’t someone who would cause any trouble but he’d stand up for himself if confronted.
‘A murder investigation was launched after Khaleed was found collapsed on the floor in Oxford Street, close to De Montfort University’s Innovation Centre on Bonners Lane.
He was rushed to Leicester Royal Infirmary but died a short time later.
Detectives from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit Major Crime Team are now trying to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
Leicestershire Police are carrying out a number of enquiries, including reviewing CCTV and speaking to eyewitnesses, and are appealing for anyone with information or mobile phone or dash cam footage to come forward.
Khaleed was seen in an altercation with another man in the street, who left the scene prior to police arriving.
Police said from inquiries carried out so far it is believed the victim was involved in an altercation with another man in the street, who left the scene before officers arrived
East Midlands Ambulance Service said several ambulances and an air ambulance were scrambled to the scene in Leicester
Detective Inspector Lorna Granville, Senior Investigating Officer, said: ‘We are currently piecing together exactly what has occurred on the corner of Oxford Street and Bonners Lane between, what is reported, as two men involved in a confrontation.
‘One of the men is believed to have been stabbed and has then collapsed in the street. Despite the best efforts of medical staff he died in hospital.
‘CCTV in the area is currently being reviewed and officers are speaking to potential witnesses to assist with our investigation. We know a lot of people came to the aid of the victim before emergency services arrived and we want to thank them for their help.
‘If you were one of these people and you haven’t yet spoken to police, please make contact with us.
‘The incident happened at 5pm so we know the area was also busy with motorists driving along Oxford Street. If you saw anything or captured footage on dash cam as you drove past the area we would also like to hear from you.
‘I appreciate the incident has caused major disruption in the city, with a number of roads closed. We are working to reduce this impact as soon as we can.
‘Local officers will be in the area over the coming days carrying out reassurance patrols. If anyone has any concerns, please speak to an officer.’
East Midlands Ambulance Service said several ambulances and an air ambulance were scrambled to the scene in Leicester last night.
A spokesperson said: ‘The caller reported a medical emergency. We sent a paramedic in an ambulance car, three crewed ambulances and a responder from the air ambulance was also in attendance.
‘We transported one patient to Leicester Royal Infirmary.’
Police and crime commissioner Rupert Matthews added: ‘My thoughts are with all those affected by this horrific, and shocking, incident.
‘A young man’s life has been unnecessarily cut short, and that is a tragedy.’I know that the police are working tirelessly to bring the person, or persons, responsible to justice.
‘I have been kept fully briefed by the Chief Constable, and I am aware that an 18-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and is currently in police custody.
‘In addition, local officers will be in the area over the coming days carrying out reassurance patrols.
‘I urge anyone with information that may help the enquiry to come forward, and of course, they can speak to local officers about any concerns they may have.
‘Witnesses reported hearing a scream before seeing a man lying on the floor.
Tye Crofton, 19, who works in De Montfort University’s Innovation Centre, said: ‘I was just about finishing work about five minutes to 5pm (…) and then I heard a scream.
‘As I exited from the doors over there to my right, there was a young man, a young black man lying on the floor… surrounded by about 12 to 17 bystanders, some of which had covered him in their coats.’
Campus security arrived with a defibrillator before an ambulance came.
Tye added: ‘It might have been a student because we are on a university campus, it did happen about 5pm and everyone was getting off work, so there was a bunch of people around.
‘There was someone else there that had two phones up to each ear and then talking into them, and I assumed that they were already in contact with EMAS (East Midlands Ambulance Service).
‘The person who was on two phones, a girl, she seemed quite emotional about it, but I don’t know if she was a friend or just someone who’d witnessed it.’
Student Rosie Davison, 21, said: ‘My friend saw someone getting CPR.’We just know that somebody got stabbed.
‘When we heard about it we thought they (the police) would cordon off the immediate area but they have cordoned off the whole road.’
