‘Loving’ dad, 34, found dead in city centre with three men arrested for murder as ‘devastated’ family pay tribute

THE family of a "loving" dad found dead in the street have paid tribute to a man who had his "whole life ahead of him".

Matthew Schofield, 34, was pronounced dead after being found in Belgrave Road, Leicester, at 4.20am on Sunday.

Two men – aged 22 and 23 – have been arrested on suspicion of murder and a 19-year-old man on suspicion of assisting an offender.

Police have also released one man, aged 18, and two men, aged 22, under investigation.

In a heartbreaking statement, Matthew’s family said they were "devastated" by his loss.

They added: "He was a loving son, father and brother and he had his whole life ahead of him. He will be greatly missed.

“Please, if anyone has any information about what has happened to Matthew, tell the police and let them to do their job in investigating the circumstances surrounding Matthew’s death."

Detective Inspector Jen Heggs, from Leicester Police's Murder Investigation Team, said: “Following extensive enquiries and an appeal issued on Sunday, we are now treating this death as a murder.

“We have established an assault took place at the location shortly before 3am on Sunday and we are now working to gather as much information relating to this incident as possible.

“The location is a busy route in and out of the city and even in the early hours of the morning there would have been people driving in the area and leaving the city after a night out."

Cops are now appealing to anyone who thinks they saw something or has captured anything on dash cam or CCTV.

Anyone who can assist is asked to provide information via //mipp.police.uk or to make contact by calling 101, quoting incident 132 of 11 June.

Alternatively, information can be provided anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.