Police make major move after teenage boy was allegedly stabbed to death in shopping centre food court
- Boy, 16, believed stabbed to death
- Another 15 year old boy arrested
Police have arrested a 15-year-old boy from Melton West after a teenager was stabbed to death in a busy Melbourne shopping centre.
Emergency services were called to the Woodgrove Shopping Centre in Melton West just before midday on Tuesday after reports of a 16-year-old boy having been stabbed.
Emergency services performed CPR, but despite their efforts he died at the scene.
The 15-year-old boy was arrested later on Tuesday after being questioned by the homicide squad.
The arrested teenager is known to have known the alleged victim. No links to youth gangs in the western suburbs have been established.
“There was an altercation between the victim and another man,” Victoria Police said.
“The exact circumstances surrounding the teenager’s death have yet to be determined.”
The incident occurred days after a local resident warned shoppers of possible “gang problems” at the mall.
Police have arrested a 15-year-old boy from Melton West after a teenager was stabbed to death in a busy Melbourne shopping centre
Police seen at Woodgrove Shopping Centre on Tuesday
An entrance to the food court was closed after the tragedy
“I heard there may be some gang trouble in Woodgrove this weekend,” the woman wrote on Facebook on Saturday.
‘Hopefully that’s not true… Be aware of your surroundings.’
A woman who works in a shop in the centre told Daily Mail Australia she heard a group of youths ‘screaming and screaming’ as the attack took place.
Witness Steve told 3AW the shopping centre was packed with shoppers at the time of the attack.
“There must be 25 police cars and helicopters in the air,” he said.
“The food court where it happened is open and there are people who don’t notice anything.”
Police tape was placed around the building as officers investigated the crime scene
Pictured: The major police operation in the city centre on Tuesday
The woman said she was shocked that authorities did not close off the square after the incident.
“All they did was close one entrance. That was it.”
A police helicopter is on the scene as detectives search for the man with the knife.
The incident occurred after the shopping centre was closed earlier this year after a fight broke out between two groups of youths armed with machetes and a butcher knife.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.