A teenager who died after being hit by a car in Sheffield had recently come to the UK from Yemen looking “for a better future”, his loved ones said.
Abdullah Yaser Abdullah Al Yazidi, 16, wanted to be “friends with everybody” and would “light up” people’s faces with a big smile”, according to his relatives and friends.
After arriving in the UK from Yemen two or three months ago, he had devoted himself to learning English ahead of starting at college in September, they said.
His relative, Saleh Alsirkal, runs a corner shop that the teenager popped into just before he was hit by an Audi car on Wednesday.
“His dad brought him over to change his life, to get a better future for his son, but this has happened and destroyed everything,” said Mr Alsirkal.
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Mr Alsirkal said Abdullah was a “kind boy” who just wanted to look after his family, including his three sisters and was really enjoying learning English.
“Every time he had a new word to learn, he was so excited about it,” he said.
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“It meant a lot to him and he learned quick. Sometimes he would stay in the shop just so he could talk to people. He tried to be friends with everyone.”
“He wanted to be the main guy for the family. He was 16 years old, but he was a clever man,” said Mr Alsirkal.
Abdullah’s friend, Oasmah Thabet, said the teenager “really cared for his family”.
“You can really tell the character of somebody by the support they give to their family,” he said.
“To the people who would come around and just say hello to him, he would light up their faces with a big smile.
“I’d like to think that we related in the sense that both our families migrated from Yemen to here.
“The reason our family came here was for a better life – to live the dream.
“For something to happen like this and for your dreams to be cut so short, it’s a tragic loss for the family and it’s just a shock that can’t be described.”
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The teenager was walking along Staniforth Road, in the Darnall area of Sheffield, when he was hit by the car.
The grey Audi also hit an e-bike, leaving an 18-year-old man with serious injuries, before leaving the scene.
Police are still questioning a 20-year-old man on suspicion of murder and attempted murder after he was arrested in Kent on Thursday.
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A 26-year-old man was rearrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder, after initially being arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.
“This is a heartbreaking case in which a completely innocent boy has lost his life,” said Detective Chief Inspector Benjamin Wood.
“Our thoughts remain with Abdullah’s family and our priority is securing justice for them.
“A murder investigation has been launched and we have a team of detectives working around the clock.
“I am renewing our message to not share footage of this incident which may cause further distress to Abdullah’s loved ones.”
DCI Wood asked for anyone with footage or information to contact officers and said he was keen to hear from the riders of two electric bikes who were in the area at the time.
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Two people, a man, aged 46, and a woman, aged 45, arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender, have both been bailed pending further inquiries, police said.
