Police have arrested seven people after the deaths of two boys, aged 12 and 15, in Melbourne’s outer north-west. Both boys — Dau Akueng, 15, and Chol Achiek, 12 — were walking home from basketball in Cobblebank when they were attacked and fatally stabbed on the evening of September 6.
Their deaths sent shockwaves through the local area, with authorities initially describing the incident as “one of the worst” knife crimes they had seen.
Homicide detectives, joined by the VIPER youth gang taskforce, arrested three men and four teenage boys at several properties across Melbourne’s western and northern suburbs this morning.
Those arrested include two 19-year-old men from Thornhill Park and Caroline Springs, an 18-year-old man from Wollert, three 16-year-old boys, and a 15-year-old boy — all from the north-west suburbs.
Police said both Dau and Chol were found by emergency services just before 8pm on September 6. Both were assisted by members of the public, but sadly died at the scene.
“The word senseless has been used so many times already in relation to the deaths of Dau Akueng and Chol Achiek, because the reality is that it doesn’t make sense. Two children walking home after playing sport, who should have had decades of their lives ahead of them,” said Assistant Commissioner Martin O’Brien.
“Of the seven people arrested today, the oldest is just 19 while the youngest is 15. Again, there is no other word for this than senseless,” he continued.
“Any incident that is so significantly violent that it results in the loss of a life is a concern for police. The impacts of these deaths, in particular Dau and Chol’s, are felt right through our communities – from the families who have lost their loved one, through to the loss of safety that many people feel as a result, even when they don’t know those involved.”
Investigations are still ongoing, and all seven people will be interviewed by police. Local police patrols have been increased around Cobblebank.
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