Canberrans flocking to Cooleman Court for their weekly grocery shop on Sunday morning could easily be forgiven for not realising a vicious attack had taken place metres away only hours before.
An 18-year-old man was stabbed to death next to the Weston skatepark at about 1am on Sunday, and a 16-year-old boy was left with severe injuries.
The scene was a contradictory juxtaposition with the body of the 18-year-old, hidden by police screens, lying just metres from the Weston tennis courts and skatepark.
A location generally associated with children spending hours playing and socialising, now the site where a young man lost his life and a teenager sustained violent injuries.
Police had cordoned off the whole of Dillon Close which leads to the skatepark and even the Namatjira Drive underpass was blocked to the walkers and cyclists that frequent it.
It was a tense scene as distraught family members of the deceased victim congregated outside the nearby McDonalds and watched on as police officers secured the area.
The unusual sight in suburban Canberra drew the attention of many passing motorists as they headed to the drive-thru and the shopping centre.
After paramedics were unable to revive the older victim and the teenager was taken to Canberra Hospital, where he will undergo surgery, AFP Forensics began to collect vital evidence.
Numbered markers dotted the area where objects of interest lay and police officers congregated across the scene deep in conversation.
By late morning dozens of orange-clad SES volunteers had assembled to begin combing the area for any further evidence that may lead investigators to an arrest and later prosecution.
While it is unclear how many people might have been at the skatepark when the attack took place, it is believed there were more there than the two victims as a 000 call was made by someone who, at this stage, remains unknown.
Weston Creek Community Council chair Tom Anderson said the community had for years been calling for a greater police presence in Weston Creek amid rising concerns of increasing criminal activity.
"Whether it [more police patrols] would have made a difference last night, I don't know," Mr Anderson said.
"It's very sad that a young person has lost their life."
He said there were not enough police from Woden station to cover Woden, Weston Creek and Molonglo and while there were plans for a Molonglo station, it would be some years away.
ACT Policing's detective acting superintendent Mark Steel said the investigation was still in its infancy and was unable to confirm exact details such as if a weapon was located.
Due to the secluded nature of the area, acting superintendent Steel called on anyone in the area of Dillon Close, including the 000 caller, to come forward to police.
Information can be provided anonymously to CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000.
