Vandals hit boy's tribute page

POLICE have vowed to track down those responsible for posting pornographic and violent images on the tribute page of a young boy stabbed at school yesterday.

More than 1200 past and present students of a Brisbane school paid tribute online to the 12-year-old student who died after being stabbed during an altercation with a classmate.

Police allege a 13-year-old boy from the same school, St Patrick’s College at Shorncliffe, stabbed Elliot Fletcher in the chest with a knife about 8.15am.

The 13-year-old was last night charged with murder and will appear in the Brisbane Children’s Court today.

The critically injured boy was treated by paramedics at the scene before being taken by ambulance to the Royal Children’s Hospital with a senior staff member by his side and under police escort.

His parents were contacted and immediately went to the hospital to be with him.

Elliott died shortly after arriving at the hospital.

While police are yet to release the name of the boy, more than 3200 people have joined the Facebook group R.I.P Elliot Fletcher, which was set up at 1pm.

At 5pm, the website had received hundreds of messages from past and present students of the college and nearby schools.

“R.I.P Elliot, Pats will never forget you, me and my family’s prayers are with you and your family,” wrote Jayson Short.

One student on the site said a number of Year 10 students pushed past him to get a closer look at Fletcher after he had been stabbed.

“You obviously have no sense of right or wrong. A boy’s life was lost today and all you could do was make a joke of it,” the student wrote.

However, according to reports this morning, the tribute page turned ugly when vandals began posting cruel messages and images on the site around midnight.

Police said they would do everything in their power to track down those responsible for the violent and pornographic images.

School headmaster Dr Michael Carroll told reporters in a prepared statement that it had been a “tragic loss of young life”.

“My immediate concern is the welfare of the families affected and all students and staff at the college,” he said.

“I have informed students and staff of this tragedy and counselling services are available to all students and staff.

“While I’m unable to discuss the details of how the injury was sustained, I can confirm that it did involve another student from the college and that other student is now assisting police with their inquiries.”

The 13-year-old student was found by officers near the school with a minor wound which required hospital treatment.

Chief Superintendent Les Hopkins said the deceased boy’s family were obviously distraught.

“I can’t imagine what it would be like to lose your 12-year-old child, but I can imagine they are having a very tough time,” he said.

The school went into lockdown.