Rob Knox, one of the actors in the upcoming film Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was murdered Saturday morning outside a bar in Southeast London. Knox plays Ravenclaw student Marcus Belby and also appeared in 2004’s King Aurthur. He was stabbed while trying to defend his younger brother Jamie from a 21-year-old man wielding two kitchen knives.
Robert Knox, an 18-year-old actor set to appear in the next Harry Potter film, was fatally stabbed outside a London pub on Saturday. According to British media reports, the actor was part of a brawl that sent five males to the hospital, including a 21-year-old who was arrested on suspicion of murder after being treated for facial injuries.
Knox, who appeared in the 2004 film King Arthur, plays Ravenclaw student Marcus Belby in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the penultimate film in the series. The film is scheduled for release later this year. He had also been signed for the final installment, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
“Rob was kind and thoughtful and would always help out others—he would always spend his last penny on other people instead of himself,” parents Sally and Colin Knox said in a statement Sunday.
“The life and soul of the party, he was very outgoing, loved sports, and would always strike up a conversation with people. He was respectful to others and adored by all his family and friends. He was [an] asset to the family.”
[From E! News]
Nicky Jonas, 19, was one of the other teenagers who was stabbed (through the hand) by the man. He described what happened to the Mirror.
“I saw the guy with two kitchen knives. He looked me straight in the eye before walking over to Rob to say ‘You’re lucky – it’s not your day.’ Then he went up to Jamie and said ‘I’m going to slit your throat’. That’s when Rob stepped in to stick up for his brother.
“Then the man started waving the knives like a madman, stabbing and slashing anyone who got in the way.” Dean Saunders, 21, who ran to Rob’s aid, was stabbed in the back and neck. He is in hospital.
Andrew Dorma, 16, was stabbed in the chest while Charlie Grimley, 17, was slashed across the arm and face.
As Rob lay bleeding on the ground Tom Hopkins, 18, bravely wrestled the knifeman to the floor, suffering a gash to the back of his head.
[From the Mirror]
According to TMZ, the fight started over a missing cell phone. Knox is the 14th teenager to die from knife violence in London since the start of the year. It’s brought a good deal of attention to the violent epidemic, and has caused his father Colin to issue a statement begging teenagers not to carry or use weapons. “If you are a person who carries a knife, think about the consequences. If you carry a knife there’s the intention to use it, so please don’t do that.”
Header image is an undated photo courtesy of Britain’s Metropolitan Police, of Robert Knox, right, with his mother Sally and 17-year old brother Jamie.
This is so terrible.
oh my gosh… that’s horrible.
It’s a terrible shame and may everyones thoughts, including my families, be with the family of Rob during these troubling times.
OMG. Why are some people SO fucking sick?
This goes to show that if someone is hell-bent on being violent, they don’t need a gun to hurt people. They will use an everyday steak knife, a baseball bat- whatever is available to them. I feel so badly for this young man’s family!
My first thought is how sorry I am for this kid’s family. My second thought was – gee, isn’t it great that they banned all their handguns? I mean, it would have been just awful if someone had been able to shoot down the knife-wielding maniac.
sad, very sad.
Thats awful. Just SO terrible.. R.I.P
Scott – “I mean, it would have been just awful if someone had been able to shoot down the knife-wielding maniac.”
Did you think that it then could have then been the ‘maniac’ that had the gun, and instead of taking the life of just one teenager, it could have been all of them?
Guns are SO not the answer.
I am moving away from London as soon as humanly possible. This is sick and awful, but it happens all the time, far more than gets picked up in the American media. The violence here is just unreal.
Tina – you’re missing the point. There were people shooting each other – so they banned guns. Now they’re stabbing each other with kitchen knives, are they going to ban all kitchen knives now?
You’re right, the outcome could have been just as bad with a gun, and that’s my whole point. One of the big arguments against guns is collateral damage, but from that story it sure sounded like at least two of the victims were innocent bystanders.
Guns, knives, baseball bats, bottles full of gasoline, ect. You could ban everything on Earth except nerf balls, and I swear to God within the first day someone is going to shove one down a guy’s throat to kill him.
Sup-i hear you, get out of Town-every day there’s another stabbing/gun crime-there’s gang culture mentality here and it’s getting so bad, most of us are pissing off in droves
Sad loss of a budding talent. Could Gwynneth Paltrow and Madonna try and tell us how much more cultured, sophisticated and civilized British folks are again, I’m a bit confused.
There are clearly homocidal nutjobs all over the world & I seriously doubt that Gwynnth or Madonna would argue with that 🙄
Terrible shame. I had no clue that knife violence was so prevelant in London.
Ban all silverware!!!!! Except for plastic sporks.
there’s been yet another stabbing-this time in Kent-wtf?
It makes laugh to read comments the Americans say about us Brits When things like this happen.
In my oppion Americas worst for violent crimes than Britian so to sujest british people are uncivilised, unsophisticated and uncultured is bang out. If anything we are trying harder than the Americans to stop things like this happening hence the reason guns are banned in the UK aswell as it is ilegal to carry knifes on you. But am i right in thinking it is still somewhat Legal to carry guns in America??
This lads life is a terrible and tragic loss and i havnt come on here to start a fight with anyone.
My deepest condolences go to his family and friends. And may Rob rest in peace.
Such a sad and tragic loss of life. My heartfelt sympathy to his family.
My Physical Therapist moved here [to the USA] 15 years ago and she says as hard as it is to be so far from her only child, grandchildren, sister and aging mother, she has been advised to never move back as London is becoming more violent everyday!
Is it ‘safe’ anywhere anymore?
Kerrii (2 posts up) does not speak on behalf of the British people. She certainly doesn’t type / spell for us either..!
You should stick to one kind of cat food. Changing back and forth might be what is making them sick. If sticking to one kind does not work I would call your vet.