A MURDER investigation has been launched after a teenager was stabbed on Friday.

Detectives have today (Monday) named the victim as Micah Urquhart, who grew up in Hitchin and attended The John Henry Newman School in Stevenage.

Mr Urquhart, 19, was found in Hastings Street in Luton, where he lived, at 12.40am on Friday by a member of the public.

Police attended the scene and administered first aid before paramedics arrived, but he died at the scene.

A post mortem has confirmed he died from a stab wound to the heart.

In a statement, Mr Urquhart’s family said: “We were shocked and saddened to learn the awful news that Micah had been killed.

“We are desperately trying to come to terms with the fact that his young life has been cut short in such a brutal manner.

“This pointless death has left us numb and at this time we would ask that our family be left in peace to grieve and be given the time and privacy needed to process this tragic event.

“Micah was a well known and well loved boy who will be desperately missed.”

Mr Urquhart was a keen footballer and loved music, which he studied after school.

“Micah was full of humour and very affectionate to all who knew him,” said the family statement.

“Micah came from an extended family. He was a son, brother, uncle and nephew, loved and cared for by all of his close relatives, of which there were many.

“We would greatly appreciate anyone coming forward with information that may help the police with their enquiries.”

A 43-year-old man was arrested at a house in Hastings Street on suspicion of murder and released on police bail on Saturday.

Leading the inquiry, Detective Chief Inspector Sharn Basra, of the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, said: “Investigators are in the process of piecing together Micah’s last movements. We know he was last seen leaving his home address in Hastings Street at 3.30pm on Thursday afternoon as he was heading on foot towards the town centre.

“It is important that anyone who saw or heard from him from 3.30pm on Thursday until 12.40am on Friday should contact the inquiry team as soon as possible.

“Although a person has been arrested in connections with this inquiry it is still vital that anyone who was in the Hastings Street area should come forward and assist this investigation.

“I am particularly interested in tracing four men who were seen going into an alley way which runs between two houses that have been converted into flats in Hastings Street.

“It is believed one of the men then returns to the entrance of the alley way and turns right towards The Butcher’s Arms public house, where he stands and is joined moments later by another member of the group.

“Both men are then joined by the remaining two group members before they all leave the scene towards Elizabeth Street.

“All the group are described as wearing hooded tops; one is described as black and another is described as a white man with short straight ginger hair which was brushed forward.

“Two other men were also seen on CCTV in the area at around the time of the incident. They are seen to be walking from Hastings Street towards the direction of Windsor Street.

“These people may be vital witnesses to the incident and I need them to contact the police urgently.”

Anyone with information can call Bedfordshire Police, in confidence, on 101 or text information to 07786 200011.

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.