A 19-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of the murder of Manchester student Luke O'Connor. Luke, 19, a student at Manchester Metropolitan University student, was stabbed to death on Wilmslow Road in the early hours of Wednesday (October 26).
On Friday night detectives investigating Luke's death arrested a man in Fallowfield. He's currently being questioned over the fatal stabbing.
Supt Helen Critchley said: "The arrest of a 19-year-old suspect on Friday night is an important step in our investigation which is moving at pace.
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"Since the tragic killing of Luke our investigation team has made significant progress as we do all we can to get justice for Luke’s family who we are continuing to support at this devastating time.
"There are still a number of enquiries being conducted to establish what happened in the early hours of Wednesday, but what is clear is that this was a senseless and needless loss of a promising young life that has shocked our student community and we are doing all we can to support them, too."
Police say at this stage they believe Luke did not know his attacker. They are not currently looking for anyone else in connection with his death.
Extra officers have been patrolling Fallowfield this week, while GMP say they are 'continuing to listen and speak to students about their concerns in the city, as well as working closely with both universities'.
Luke, from Bedfordshire, was attacked as he returned home from a party. Police attended the scene on Wilmslow Road at around 2am. They gave the teenager CPR before he was taken to hospital, where he later sadly died.
Luke's family paid tribute to him earlier this week, describing him as a 'gentle giant' who was 'loving life' in Manchester.
They said : "Our hearts yearn for the loss of Luke; we are truly devastated by this tragedy. Luke was loved by so many people, and he knew how much he was loved in return.
"He was a second year business management student at university. He loved the freedom of student living and studying and was loving life in Manchester. Luke was the youngest of three boys in our family and was a gentle giant with big hopes and dreams for the future.
"His biggest dream was to travel the world, but now Luke will never be able to fulfil that dream. Luke loved music, football and was a big supporter of Liverpool Football Club, who he followed religiously from a young age.
"He had a profound impact on so many people throughout his life. He was truly one of a kind, who’s presence would light up any room. Luke’s friends also adored him, as he adored them. They often called Luke a ‘Legend’ and ‘the life and soul’ of everything he did. Everyone who met him, truly loved him.
"Our lively, bubbly, beautiful boy has been taken from us and our family are now left with a hole in our hearts that will never be filled. Justice needs to be served as we have lost our beautiful young Luke, who was robbed of life.
"We will continue to honour his name for as long as we are all here, and his legacy with go on forever."
Police continue to appeal for information or footage. Call 0161 856 6777 quoting incident 240 of October 26, or images and footage can be submitted online here.
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