Shock twist after a young man was ambushed and killed by 12 thugs armed with machetes – as his distraught father breaks his silence
A grieving father has made a heartfelt plea after his son was fatally stabbed during a wild brawl involving machetes, less than two years after the family suffered another violent tragedy.
Lino Atem, 24, was hanging out with friends in the car park of the Haines Drive Reserve in Wyndham Vale in Melbourne’s south-west on Friday evening around 11.30pm when he and the group were ambushed by at least a dozen men armed with ‘sharp weapons. weapons.
The young tradie suffered stab wounds and died on the spot, just 100 meters from his home.
The attack also injured two men, including Lino’s brother Mading, 27, who remains in hospital. The alleged attackers are still on the run.
The tragedy comes on top of the family mourning Lino’s eldest brother Atem Atem, who was shot and killed at the family’s home in Wyndham Vale in February 2023.
No arrests have been made in the killings of Atem, 29, and a friend who was in the house at the time. The family dog was also killed.
Mr Atem fears Lino’s case could be a repeat.
“Of course I need justice,” Atem told Seven News on Sunday.
Lino Atem, 24, was killed about 11.30pm on Friday after being ambushed in the Haines Drive Reserve car park in Melbourne’s south-west suburb of Wyndham Vale.
‘I want justice immediately. I’m waiting for the government and the police to arrest these people.’
Mr Atem is ‘very sad’ that he is now going to bury a second son.
‘When I wake up and see the news, I cry again, me and my son. We are crying for Lino this morning,” he said.
‘He does everything for me. Try to help me.”
Mr. Atem’s fourth son worked as a bricklayer and was a talented basketball player who idolized NBA superstar LeBron James.
Lino was just weeks away from celebrating his 25th birthday.
Another 27-year-old man suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the incident.
Lino’s father, Deng Atem, has called on the government and police to catch his son’s killers, something they failed to do after a previous family tragedy.
Police say they are reviewing CCTV footage of the incident but it appeared it was a targeted and brutal attack
One of the last people to speak to Lino before he died told the Herald Sun that the 24-year-old was about to return to his nearby home when he was attacked.
Police believe the ‘savage’ attack appeared to be targeted.
“It appears the people who were here were taken by surprise,” said Inspector Paul Lloyd.
“There is no doubt that whoever delivered the blows had a clear intention to cause serious harm and probably kill him (Lino).”
Four men from the original group were arrested for their initial involvement in the battle.
They have all since been released and no charges have been filed.
Lino was just weeks away from celebrating his 25th birthday
No weapons were found at the scene.
The police are investigating a number of ‘good camera images’, but are calling on anyone who may have additional camera images or dashcam to come forward.
“Although we don’t know yet what the story is behind this, I’m sure there is and we will do everything we can to discover it,” Insp Lloyd said.
“We really want to get to the bottom of what happened here.”