A mum screamed "my child, my child" as her five-year-old son was "snatched and stabbed to death" before a woman was arrested on suspicion of his murder.
The grisly discovery was made by police just before 6pm on Tuesday in Earlsdon, Coventry.
Despite the best efforts of emergency services, he was confirmed dead at the scene and a 49-year-old woman was detained on suspicion of murder.
Neighbours have described the boy's horrified mum frantically shouting "my child, my child, call the police, call the police" as she ran to a nearby Co-op for help, The Mirror reports.
One resident, who did not want to be named, told the publications: "We heard lots of screaming and shouting and the mum had run into the Co-op saying her child had been taken.
"She was saying 'my child, my child' and repeatedly saying 'call the police'. She was in a lot of distress as you can imagine. It was nightmarish.
"We don't know if the boy was snatched from the home or found at the home. It is still quite confusing but a lot of people are saying he was stabbed, which would just be horrific.
"But police closed the shop so something has gone on there. It is just completely heartbreaking. I'm told they were a foreign family but I don't know where from.
"The police have made the cordon even bigger this morning, they have been knocking our doors and it has just been completely crazy."
West Midlands Police confirmed on Wednesday that the woman arrested was not the boy's mother, but was known to the family.
Speaking near the scene, Supt Ronan Tyrer said: "I'm here to tell you about an ongoing investigation into the tragic death of a five-year-old child which, understandably, has shocked the community.
"Just after 5pm yesterday, we were called to the Earlsdon area of Coventry and when we arrived we found a young boy, who was just short of his 6th birthday, with multiple injuries.
"Despite the extensive efforts of police officers and paramedics, unfortunately nothing could be done to save him."
