Declan Laverty died in witness’s arms after alleged stabbing at Darwin’s Airport Tavern BWS

A bystander who tried to save the life of a young BWS employee after he was allegedly stabbed to death recalls the tragic moment when he died in his arms.

Declan Laverty, 20, had finished his shift at the Airport Tavern BWS Drive-through bottle shop in Jingili, Darwin just before 9pm on Sunday when he refused to serve a 19-year-old male customer.

The teenager allegedly stabbed Mr Laverty and fled the scene in a blue 2014 Toyota Camry. He has been charged with one count of murder and one count of aggravated robbery.

Moments after the alleged attack, a witness ran into the bottle shop and desperately tried to resuscitate the young worker.

“I was just going to do what I could to try and save the young man’s life. It was actually horrible,” he told Nine News.

“I thought I had him there, but no, he died in my arms.”

Mr Laverty had sent his father one last text after he was allegedly assaulted.

“I love you, got stabbed,” the message read.

The worker’s father, who declined to be named, told Darwin radio station Mix FM that his son was looking for a new job because he “couldn’t deal with customers anymore.”

“A screwdriver was pulled on him just a few weeks ago,” the father said.

“One of the other members of staff was physically assaulted and was unable to return to work.

“They get attacked on that one quite often, as far as I know. He was looking for another job. He just couldn’t take it anymore.’

The doting dad said he came home Sunday night to find his son’s half-eaten dinner in the fridge.

He remembered Mr Laverty as a ‘wonderful, stubborn, strong lad’ who had moved to the NT from Cairns in Queensland two years earlier.

“He loved his football and he was very into music at the moment.

“He tried to put out some songs and worked in the pub at the airport for about 30 hours.”

The father called for an end to the violence in Darwin and said ‘something has to be done’.

“It’s going to be very bad for everyone there. Whether it’s my son or someone else.’

He added that his last interaction with his son was a punch before going to work at 2pm.

“He went to work and did my fist pump and everything like he always does,” he said.

Mr. Laverty’s sister, Bridget, wrote a tribute on Facebook on Monday: “Declan, you were the best brother I could wish for.”

“Your silly smile, your love, your big head will miss you so much my brother, forever 20,” she said.

The 19-year-old allegedly stabbing Mr Laverty was arrested and charged by police on Tuesday. He must appear in court on Tuesday.

Police also arrested two others, 15 and 16, in connection with the alleged stabbing, and two other alleged robberies around Darwin earlier in the evening. They were charged with two counts of robbery and will appear in court on Tuesday.

At a press conference on Monday, Assistant Police Commissioner Michael White said detectives believe the alleged stabbing was linked to two separate cases involving Darwin earlier that evening.

“Two other people are also in custody, aged 15 and 16, assisting police with investigations related to this case, and also a separate case in the bottle shop at the beach hotel earlier that evening,” he said.

Police believe the first incident happened at the Beachfront Hotel in Rapid Creek, in central Darwin, and the second on the street in Karama, in the city’s eastern suburbs.

“We believe these two incidents are linked, and possibly a third incident earlier in the evening in Karama where a young person was attacked and a number of items were stolen from them,” the assistant police commissioner said.

A 17-year-old boy was also charged with aggravated robbery and will appear in court on April 17.

Investigators seized a blue Toyota Camry that they say was present at all three incidents.