Aria, who had recently celebrated her ninth birthday with a K-pop “Demon Hunters” party, was found stabbed to death at a residential property shortly after 6pm on Monday.
Police arrested the 15-year-old outside Worle rail station, less than half a mile from the scene. He is due to appear at Bristol magistrates’ court on Wednesday. His name has not been released due to his age.
Friends and neighbours described Aria as a “lovely little girl” who enjoyed dressing up, having her hair styled, and experimenting with make-up. She had recently started cleaning cars to earn money for clothes and ran a YouTube channel with a close friend.
Tamara Taylor, 40, a neighbour whose daughter was Aria’s best friend, said:
“Aria was sassy for her age, she loved dressing up and doing what little girls do. She and my daughter were inseparable, always playing together and spending nights in each other’s homes.
I’m dreading telling her when she comes home from school. How do you tell an eight-year-old girl that her best friend has been murdered?”
Taylor added that the girls had been excited about Christmas and had discussed their wish lists the night before Aria’s death.
Aria lived in a three-bedroom housing association property with her mother, Victoria Hull, 36, a hairdresser, and her older siblings. She was a pupil at Becket Primary School, whose students have yet to be informed about the tragedy.
Avon and Somerset police confirmed paramedics called them to a property in the Mead Vale area at 6.09pm on Monday. The first officer arrived three minutes later, but Aria was pronounced dead at the scene.
Superintendent Jen Appleford said:
“Our investigation has continued at pace since Monday evening. A 15-year-old boy, who lives in Weston-super-Mare, has been charged with murder. He is due to appear in court later today.
This remains an incredibly difficult time for Aria’s family, who we continue to support. It is impossible to adequately describe how traumatic the past 36 hours have been for them, and we ask for their privacy.”
Appleford added that the loss has caused shock across the community and that police are working closely with schools and partner agencies to ensure those affected receive support.
“We are grateful to local residents for their patience during our enquiries. This work will continue over the next few days. Anyone with concerns should speak to officers on the cordon, who will be happy to help.”
Neighbours described the tragedy as “too dreadful to think about, especially at Christmas.” Police have been knocking doors and gathering information from local residents as the investigation continues.
The community is rallying around Aria’s family, while authorities work to ensure that support is available for children, families, and neighbours affected by the shocking event.
