Balloons released at Fred Shand vigil in Northampton

Hundreds of balloons rose above Northampton as a tribute to a much-loved teenager

Hundreds of people have released balloons to remember a teenager stabbed to death a year ago.

Rohan Shand, 16, who was known as Fred, died in Kingsthorpe, Northampton, on 22 March 2023.

A 15-year-old boy was sentenced in November to a minimum of 13 years for his murder.

A local pastor said more needed to be done to educate young men about the dangers of carrying a knife and the consequences of using it.

People at the vigil shared memories of Fred and mourned the loss of a teenager who "loved his music" and was a "talented footballer".

Rohan Shand, 16, known as Fred, died in Northampton in March 2023

One of those who gathered in Park Square, Kingsthorpe, to remember Fred said his murder left the community "reeling".

The murder trial heard told Fred's attacker had looked for him at his school and then followed him on his walk home before stabbing him near the Cock Hotel.

A year on, his family, friends and community are still trying to make sense of what happened.

Quinton Milise, a local poet, said people gathered to hold memories of Fred "in their hearts"

Quinton Milise, one of the hundreds who attended the vigil, said Fred's grieving family had left his bedroom exactly as it was.

"The wardrobe is still there, the gaming chair, the Bible is still open on the page - it's almost like a time capsule," he said.

Mr Milise also reflected on the huge impact a few seconds of violence had had on so many people.

"There's a family there, there's a ripple effect, there's deep loss that permeates and sends shock waves through the community with Fred at the epicentre," he said.

Hundreds of people came to the square in Kingsthorpe to release balloons and remember Fred

Bishop Donnovan Allen said people who carried knives hurt individuals, families and society

Bishop Donnovan Allen from the New Testament Church of God, who knew Fred and his family, said: "I think we need to be more proactive to speak to those young men - why are they carrying a knife, how do they deal with anger, how do they deal when things go wrong in their lives? - because they're not hurting an individual, they're hurting a family and they're hurting the society."