Mother Highlights Systemic Failures After Son's Death in Knife Rampage

The tragic death of Jacob Billington, killed by a mentally ill individual, underscores the need for better management of violent, mentally ill offenders.

• Jacob Billington was killed in Birmingham by Zephaniah McLeod, a paranoid schizophrenic, during a 90-minute knife rampage in September 2020.
• The inquest revealed multiple systemic failures in managing McLeod's mental illness and risk to the public.
• McLeod was released from prison without adequate support for his mental illness, leading to the fatal attack.
• Joanne Billington, Jacob's mother, calls for improved interagency cooperation to prevent future tragedies.
• The coroner's report aims to address the lack of coordination and information sharing among agencies handling high-risk individuals.

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