UK - Layton Carr 14, tragically died from a fire incident, 14 children aged 11-14 arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, Gateshead. 2 May 2025

[StillDiggin]

This incident is so sad. I often wonder if there should be more duty of care for landowners of abandoned buildings to make sure they are more secure. It really is a tragic incident,

Fourteen children have been arrested over the death of a 14-year-old boy in a fire at an industrial unit.

The blaze broke out at Fairfield industrial park in the Bill Quay area of Gateshead on Friday evening.

It was extinguished, but a body believed to be that of Layton Carr, who had been reported missing, was located inside the building, Northumbria Police said.

Eleven boys and three girls aged between 11 and 14 were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and remain in police custody.
Police said they received reports of the fire shortly after 20:00 BST at the 15-acre site on the southern banks River Tyne.

It has fallen into disrepair in recent years, with a gatehouse leading to the site smashed down and a number of buildings left abandoned.
Fourteen children arrested over Gateshead boy's fire death

 

[katydid23]

FOURTEEN arrested for manslaughter? How could that be? It didnt take 14 teens to set fire to the building, did it?

Were they all somehow involved in wanting him dead?

 

[JustJo]

Thank you for posting StillDiggin, I came to see if there was a thread for Layton.

Absolutely tragic for the family. I am sure those arrested are also devastated. I wonder if any of them will actually be charged.

 

[JustJo]

FOURTEEN arrested for manslaughter? How could that be? It didnt take 14 teens to set fire to the building, did it?

Were they all somehow involved in wanting him dead?

I imagine not, I think it was probably a tragic accident but the 14 may have been involved in what caused the accident. If that makes sense.

 

[JosieT2000]

Tragic for all involved! This is local-ish to me.
I wonder if they were friends and a prank has got out of hand.

 

[Deechee]

Tragic for all involved! This is local-ish to me.
I wonder if they were friends and a prank has got out of hand.

Local to me too.

 

[JustJo]

Tragic for all involved! This is local-ish to me.
I wonder if they were friends and a prank has got out of hand.

Local-ish here as well.

 

[Deechee]

Linking Northumbria Police Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1092311362943610&id=100064942681619

 

[StillDiggin]

Missing boy, 14, found dead in burning building as 14 children arrested

The body of Layton Carr, aged 14, was found following a fire inside a building in Gateshead, and now 14 children aged between 11 and 14 have been arrested, said police

www.mirror.co.uk

Unfortunately I think it’s an abandoned warehouse where kids hang out regularly. Information I got from a firefighter Some of them climbed on the roof. Fires got out of control and fell through the roof. No one knows yet if he died from impact or fire caused it took awhile to get the fires under control. Police will naturally want to know you started the fires for the manslaughter charges. Such a tragic event.

 

[JustJo]

Missing boy, 14, found dead in burning building as 14 children arrested

The body of Layton Carr, aged 14, was found following a fire inside a building in Gateshead, and now 14 children aged between 11 and 14 have been arrested, said police

www.mirror.co.uk

Unfortunately I think it’s an abandoned warehouse where kids hang out regularly. Information I got from a firefighter Some of them climbed on the roof. Fires got out of control and fell through the roof. No one knows yet if he died from impact or fire caused it took awhile to get the fires under control. Police will naturally want to know you started the fires for the manslaughter charges. Such a tragic event.

Yes I sadly agree.

 

[Dotta]

"Tributes pour in for boy, 14,
killed in fire at derelict warehouse -
as 14 children are arrested over death."

Tributes pour in for boy, 14, killed in fire at derelict site

Devastated relatives of a 14-year-old boy killed in a fire at a derelict industrial site - leading to the arrest of 14 children - told how they had been left 'numb' by the tragedy.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Seni]

Tragic for all involved! This is local-ish to me.
I wonder if they were friends and a prank has got out of hand.

For there to be manslaughter charges, I suspect, hope am wrong, that maybe he was trapped. IMO

 

[tlcya]

such a sad case. Agree, for the manslaughter charges I wondered if the fire was set intentionally? Not with the victim's death in mind, but that was the result.

 

[katydid23]

such a sad case. Agree, for the manslaughter charges I wondered if the fire was set intentionally? Not with the victim's death in mind, but that was the result.

It's odd because that was supposedly where teens went to party. An abandoned building seems like something they'd want to keep for themselves. Burning it seems weird if they enjoyed having a place to hang out and get high.

Worse case scenario, they burned it to destroy evidence. Maybe even evidence that one of them died?

 

[JustJo]

Layton Carr Gateshead fire death: 'Security concerns were raised' - BBC News

Broken fence panels at the industrial estate where Layton Carr died were reported, councillors say.

www.bbc.co.uk

It would seem like it's a magnet for youths. I don't think they care what they set on fire, even if it is somewhere they hang out. There's a wooded area near us, and kids are always setting it alright, even though they have dens etc.

 

[StillDiggin]

Two more child suspects arrested one month on from Layton Carr fire tragedy

The 14-year-old's body was found following a blaze at an industrial estate in Gateshead

www.chroniclelive.co.uk