Dionne Barrett shares her heartbreak over a Sheffield school stabbing, fearing lessons are unlearned from her son Gordon’s tragic death.
Recently, a boy died after a stabbing at a school in Sheffield. His name was Harvey Willgoose, and he was only fifteen. Dionne fears no one learns from Gordon’s death. Dionne knows Harvey’s family’s pain. She says the phone call is devastating.
She never worried about Gordon at school, as it should be a safe place. Now, a child went to school and did not come home. It feels like lives mean nothing, and it keeps happening. Dionne feels nothing changes.
Gordon Gault died in 2022 after a stabbing when a machete hit him near Elswick Park. He was fourteen. People tried to help him, but he died in the hospital after six days. Dionne held him when he passed.
After Gordon died, Dionne started a campaign against knives. She begged kids to not carry weapons and wants to keep his memory alive. Stopping knife crime helps keep Gordon’s name present. Harvey’s death makes her think no one listens.
Dionne feels sick about Harvey’s death, saying it keeps getting worse and kids are getting younger. Something must change quickly, or more families will suffer. She says kids think they can get away with it and should fear being caught with a knife.
All Saints school locked down during the stabbing, and Harvey died at 4 p.m. A fifteen-year-old boy was arrested for murder. The school closed the next day, and people left flowers outside.
Six teens were tried for Gordon’s murder, but none were initially convicted of murder. Two, Carlos Neto and Lawson Natty, were later found guilty of manslaughter.
Neto stabbed Gordon and got nine years in jail. Natty ordered the machete online and received over two years. Dionne learned Natty might leave jail early due to prison overcrowding.
