A teenage dad-of-two was confronted by up to three people moments before he was killed, new details have revealed.
Kyle Whitley, 18, was stabbed to death in the middle of the afternoon on Easter Monday on Vincent Road in Litherland.
Now, it has emerged how the teen was attacked in the street, just outside his flat, close to where he was found collapsed.
Kyle had been walking in the area at the time and had only just got back from a visit to nearby shops when he was confronted.
Detectives believe up to three people were involved in the dispute with him and after the stabbing, they ran off from the scene
.
On Monday, a boy was rearrested on suspicion of murdering Kyle.
The teenager, 17, was also detained on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class A and B drugs.
The boy, from St Helens, was initially arrested in April after the killing.
He has once again been released on bail.
Last week, the Kyle's mum, Lisa, urged people to come forward to help catch those responsible.
She said: "I’d just like to thank everyone that has come forward, and I plead with anybody that knows anything about my son’s murder, as it is coming up to Christmas.
"You will see your sons at Christmas… I won’t get to see my son ever again… my world is empty."
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Friends who knew Kyle from when he was a boy have urged people to bring a stop to knife crime to "end the grief" for families having to cope with the loss of a loved one.
One friend recalled: "We always climbed trees and other things and we used to go exploring.
"Kyle was adventurous as a child and I was too, we are similar in our own ways.
"He always helped my family too, me and him lifted couches out of a truck into my house the couches that are still there today.
"He had more than enough respect for his elders, he had a heart of pure gold and he didn’t deserve to have his life taken from him at such an early age."
Police have said they have made "significant" progress in recent weeks and add the killing was not "specifically targeted."
So far, five people have been arrested in connection with Kyle’s murder, three of whom remain under investigation.
They include a man, 23, and a 19 year-old woman and a 20 year-old man, from the Litherland area, who were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder.
Detective Chief Inspector Siobhan Gainer said: “As Lisa’s words show, the impact on Kyle’s family and friends has been profound, and many lives have been devastated by what happened in April.
"However, we believe that real progress is being made in the investigation, which we are determined to build upon as we approach Christmas, an even more difficult time to cope with having lost a loved one.
“There have been some significant developments lately; area searches; the seizure of knives and some substantial ongoing forensic work.
"I’d like to echo Lisa’s words in appealing for any information to maintain this positive momentum.
"If you know anything about the murder of Kyle and have yet to come forward, please do so and help his family see justice served.
“If you were in the area of Vincent Road on the day of 13 April, or captured anything on CCTV or dashcam, or hold any information at all, get in touch.
"However you get the information to us, we will deal with it sensitively.”
Anyone with information is asked to DM @MerPolCC or contact @Crimestoppers anonymously quoting reference 20000215637.
