The family of a university student stabbed to death in Nottingham have paid tribute to a 'beautiful, brilliant, bright young man, with everything in life to look forward to'.
The family of 19-year-old Barnaby Webber spoke of their 'complete devastation' at the 'senseless murder of our son' as a second victim was named locally and pictured.
Grace Kumar, 19, was also a student at the University of Nottingham and played hockey for the first team, according to reports today.
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Barnaby's parents David and Emma Webber, and his younger brother Charlie, said he was 'at the start of his journey into adulthood and was developing into a wonderful young man'.
The family, from Taunton, Somerset, issued a statement and photographs following their son’s death in an incident in Nottingham during the early hours of Tuesday.
They said: “Complete devastation is not enough to describe our pain and loss at the senseless murder of our son. Barnaby Philip John Webber was a beautiful, brilliant, bright young man, with everything in life to look forward to.
"A talented and passionate cricketer, who was over the moon to have made selection to his university cricket team. At 19 he was just at the start of his journey into adulthood and was developing into a wonderful young man.
"As parents we are enormously proud of everything he achieved and all the plans he had made. His brother is bereft beyond belief, and at this time we ask for privacy as a family to be allowed time to process and grieve.
"We will not be making any further statements, particularly in relation to the police investigation. We are so proud to release these photographs, chosen by us as a family, of an amazing son, brother, grandson, nephew and friend.
"Thank you for your understanding, and to everyone who has supported us in this awful journey so far.”
Earlier, Taunton-based Bishops Hull Cricket Club paid tribute to Mr Webber, who was one of its members, describing him as a “dear friend”.
The victim was described as a “key part” of the club and the statement invited family and friends to lay flowers and pay their respects at the ground. Former England cricket captain Michael Vaughan also paid tribute to Mr Webber, describing him as a “young cricketer gone far too soon”.
A former pupil of Taunton School also posted a tribute in the Old Tauntonians alumni group on Facebook, describing him as a “wonderful young man with much to look forward to”.
And tributes were paid to Grace Kumar, who was a popular member of England hockey teams, according to the sport’s governing body.
England Hockey tweeted: “We are all deeply saddened by the news of the tragic death of Grace Kumar in Nottingham on Tuesday.
“Grace was a popular member of the England U16 and U18 squads and our thoughts are with Grace’s family, friends, teammates and the whole hockey community at this time.”
Woodford Wells Cricket Club, in Essex, said Grace was “fun, friendly and brilliant”.
“Devastated to hear the news about former Wells Baby Belles captain, Grace Kumar,” the club Tweeted.
“A fiercely competitive, talented and dedicated cricketer and hockey player.
“Our thoughts are with Sanjoy, Sinead and James at this time and everyone who knew Grace – fun, friendly and brilliant.”
Mr Webber and Ms Kumar were stabbed to death in Ilkeston Road – a known student area – by an attacker who also killed a man in his 50s in Magdala Road.
The two students and a man, in his 50s, were tragically killed in a deadly series of attacks that took place in Nottingham on Tuesday morning.
Three people were also taken to hospital, after a van drove into a bus stop in Milton Street. One man who is fighting for his life. Two others suffered minor injuries.
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