Pictured: ‘Cheeky and funny’ boy, 15, stabbed to death as two teenagers are charged with his murder

Pictured: ‘Cheeky and funny’ boy, 15, stabbed to death as two teenagers are charged with his murder

  • Officers were called to Walker Avenue in Bolton at around 4.45am on Tuesday
  • Reese Tansey was rushed to hospital and died from his injuries a short time later
  • Teens accused of his murder to appear at Manchester Crown Court on Monday 

A ‘cheeky and funny’ 15-year-old boy who was stabbed to death in Greater Manchester has been pictured for the first time. 

Officers were called to Walker Avenue in Bolton at around 4.45am on Tuesday to reports of a knife attack.

Young Reece Tansey was rushed to hospital after suffering several stab wounds, having previously staggered to knock on the door of a house to try to get help.

He sadly died from his injuries a short time later.

Two teenagers have been charged with Reece’s murder and will next appear at Manchester Crown Court on Monday.

Young Reece Tansey was rushed to hospital after suffering several stab wounds, having previously staggered to knock on the door of a house to try to get help

Reece's friends paid tribute to the tragic 15-year-old by letting off balloons in his memory

Reece’s friends paid tribute to the tragic 15-year-old by letting off balloons in his memory

His family said in a tribute: ‘Reece was a 15-year-old boy – cheeky and funny. He had a twinkle in his eye and a ready smile.

‘Reece loved nothing more than spending time with his family and friends. He had a sense of humour that was contagious, he regularly played pranks on his mum and dad, which left his little brother in heaps of giggles.

‘Reece had an ability to make you smile and it was often difficult to be serious with him. He was at an age where he was starting to find his way in life, and become his own person, but he always needed his mum and adored her and the rest of his family.

‘His life has been tragically cut short, his death is something that we will never understand and certainly never get over.

‘Reece deserves to be remembered as the boy loved by his family, not as the boy cruelly allegedly stabbed and left to die in the street.

‘He deserves to be remembered as the boy who loved motorbikes, who was full of life and had a passion for living, not as yet another statistic in the rise of knife crime.

‘The death of Reece has had a profound effect on his family and friends, and indeed on the larger community. To say he will be missed is a great understatement.

‘We would like to thank everybody for their kind words and support at this difficult time.’

Officers were called to Walker Avenue in Bolton at around 4.45am on Tuesday to reports of a knife attack

Officers were called to Walker Avenue in Bolton at around 4.45am on Tuesday to reports of a knife attack 

Detective Inspector Nicola McCulloch, of GMP’s Major Incident Team, said: ‘Our thoughts are with Reece’s family who are understandably devastated. We currently have specialist officers supporting them through this horrific time.

‘Two teenagers have currently been charged with Reece’s murder and we’re continuing to ask anyone with information to come forward. Even the smallest information may assist with our enquiries.

‘Anyone with information or anyone with videos and images can submit them directly via the Major Incident Public Portal at https://mipp.police.uk/operation/06GMP21K20-PO1.

‘Alternatively, call 101 quoting log number 359 of 04/05/2021 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.’