ROHAN Shand was just 16 when he was murdered “over foolishness” on his way home from school in March 2023.
The senseless crime is featured in C5’s The Real Adolescence: Our Killer Kids, which explores the devastating impact of youth violence in the UK.
SuppliedRohan Shand Snr, the father of murdered teenager Rohan ‘Fred’ Shand, said he has ‘lost everything’[/caption]
PARohan Shand was fatally stabbed in Northampton in March 2023[/caption]
Who was Rohan Shand?
Rohan Shand, affectionately known as Fred, was a 16-year-old schoolboy from Northampton, England.
He was described by his family and friends as a wonderful young man whose life was tragically cut short by knife crime in March 2023.
Ahead of his funeral, Fred’s family released a statement saying his death had “left everyone who knew Fred totally devastated and heartbroken”.
It continued: “Fred was a loving and kind person, who was respectful to people of all ages.
“He was also such a witty person who knew exactly what to say or do to put a big smile on our faces and was just a fun person to be around.
“He was like his dad’s fifth sense as Fred was the one who took care of all online activities, from ordering the shopping to helping with banking.
“But this was just one way he helped his dad as we feel his loss in so many ways, missing him every day.”
Senseless murder
On March 22, 2023, Fred was stabbed to death on his way home from school in the Kingsthorpe area of Northampton.
The attack took place near the Cock Hotel on Harborough Road shortly after 3.30pm.
Emergency services responded, but despite their efforts Fred died from his injuries.
The perpetrator, a 15-year-old boy who cannot be named for legal reasons, was arrested and later convicted of Fred’s murder.
After a four-week trial at Northampton Crown Court, the boy was found guilty and sentenced to 13 years in a Young Offenders Institute.
‘When I lose my son, it’s like I lose my life’
Fred’s father, Rohan Shand Sr, has spoken powerfully about the emotional toll his son’s murder has taken on his family.
In the days following the senseless crime, a vigil was held in Fred’s memory, during which Fred’s dad said his son had been killed “over foolishness… I don’t even know what my son died for”.
When I lose my son, it’s like I lose my life, I lose everything, the trauma is still there
Rohan Shand Snr
Driven by his grief and determination to prevent similar tragedies, Mr Shand Snr is planning to establish an anti-knife crime foundation.
He said he wanted to show youngsters “we don’t need you lot to carry knives, because you don’t need knives” and that “a knife is for cooking”.
Mr Shand Snr said: “If you have a problem, or you feel scared, go to someone and try and talk to somebody big, who can approach the person and try to get whatever difference you have, and squash it right there.
“No-one will lose their life.”
SWNSGrieving family, friends and classmates left balloons, flowers and notes at the scene of the crime[/caption]
“I’m begging them please to put down the knife, because they don’t know the trauma.”
At a memorial service marking the two-year anniversary of Fred’s death, Mr Shand Snr said: “When I lose my son, it’s like I lose my life, I lose everything, the trauma is still there.
“Looking at my son and the picture on the wall and all these things, I know [I’m] not going to get any grandchildren. It’s just too much.”
He hopes to raise awareness about the devastating effects of knife crime and to push for immediate action to protect other families from experiencing such devastating trauma.
The Real Adolescence: Our Killer Kids
The Channel 5 documentary The Real Adolescence: Our Killer Kids features Fred’s tragic case, as well as those of other young victims of peer violence.
SuppliedRohan Shand Snr plans to establish an anti-knife crime foundation[/caption]
The programme includes interviews with bereaved families, experts in youth crime and campaigners.
Shedding light on the rise in murder convictions among 12 to 17-year-olds in the UK, the doc stresses the urgent need for preventative measures, as well as support for affected families.
Executive producer Daniel Smith said: “Child killers is a horrific topic that has been brought back to the top of the agenda by Adolescence, but this documentary is real life.
“We want to thank all the contributors for sharing their personal stories and hope that by bringing them together, we have focussed on the shattering impact of these crimes and included experts to suggest how they might be prevented.”
Commissioning editor Dan Louw said: “This is a shocking and sobering film about a national emergency, and I challenge every parent to watch it.
“For years we’ve written off growing levels of youth violence as a mere ‘moral panic’, but this film demonstrates that this approach is failing our kids, and victims of violence.”
The Real Adolescence: Our Killer Kids airs on Channel 5 at 10pm on Thursday, May 8, 2025.
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