Police took seven hours to arrest alleged Nightcliff stabber
NT Police have charged a man with murder over the death of an adored Nightcliff grocery store owner.
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UPDATE - Thursday April 24, 6.45pm: Police have charged an 18-year-old man with murder over the alleged stabbing death of Nightcliff shop owner, Linford Feick on Wednesday evening.
The 18-year-old man remains in Northern Territory Police custody and is expected to appear in Darwin Local Court on Monday, April 28.
UPDATE — Thursday April 24, 1pm: Police took seven hours to arrest the alleged Nightcliff stabber with the help of his family.
Assistant Commissioner Travis Wurst detailed the circumstances leading the 18-year-old’s arrest after he allegedly killed Linford Feick, 71, at his Nightcliff store on Wednesday evening.
Mr Wurst said it took police 10 minutes to attend the scene after they first received reports about 5.30pm.
There is a police station directly opposite the crime scene, but it has never been operationally manned.
The assistant commissioner said this did not delay the police response as the events “happened so quickly”.
“Northern Territory Police surged with all available resources from both frontline and specialist areas onto the area,” Mr Wurst said.
“The family of the person was located, and through that ongoing engagement with that particular family and the community, that person had turned himself into police, which is a good outcome for the community.”
St John Ambulance NT had its Critical Response Unit with intensive care paramedic and responding Emergency Ambulance Crew on scene fewer than 11 minutes from the Triple-0 call, while emergency call takers provided emergency care advice to bystanders performing first aid.
NT Police said the man turned himself in at Palmerston police station about 12.35am Thursday — seven hours after the initial incident.
On Thursday morning, locals had gathered to lay flowers and tributes outside the Nightcliff Friendly Grocer store.
Mr Feick was a much loved member of the community, having owned and operated the grocery for decades.
Police were also in attendance on Thursday, with a unit scouring Sandalwood St in Nightcliff 100m away from the scene for the murder weapon.
UPDATE — Thursday April 24, 9.30am: The 18-year-old who allegedly stabbed to death Nightcliff shop owner, Linford Feick, was on bail at the time of the incident.
The alleged offender turned 18 just three days ago, according to Assistant Commissioner Travis Wurst.
Mr Wurst said the alleged offender appeared in the Supreme Court on unrelated matters last Thursday, April 17, and was granted bail.
UPDATE — Thursday April 24, 12.35am: An 18-year-old man has handed himself in to police for the alleged horror fatal stabbing at the Nightcliff supermarket.
NT Police said the man turned himself in at Palmerston police station at about 12.35am Thursday.
Charges are yet to be laid.
The young man, who was on Supreme Court bail for a previous offence, is understood to come from the Northern Territory’s Daly region.
He was not fitted with an ankle bracelet.
The man allegedly stabbed and killed the 71-year-old store owner, Linford Feick, at the Nightcliff supermarket on Progress Drive on Wednesday evening.
Doctors in the store at the time of the attack were unable to save the man.
A spokesman for NT Police said about 5.15pm the 18-year-old man was stealing items in the store, and the 71-year-old man confronted him and asked him to return the items.
It was alleged the man then stabbed the business owner with an edged weapon before fleeing the scene on a bicycle.
Customers and distressed witnesses provided initial first aid until emergency services arrived at the scene.
“Emergency Services responded immediately and attended the scene where CPR was commenced, and the 71-year-old man was pronounced deceased,” a police spokesman said.
Mr Feick’s wife Margaret posted an emotional tribute to her husband on social media on Thursday morning that captured the community’s devastation.
“My name is Margaret and I am Linford’s wife. I am sitting here at 3am too broken to go to sleep because my life has been shattered. My beautiful husband of 51 years was stolen from me his children and his 7 grand children. This is so hurtful. An 18 year old kid has done this in a dreadful moment of anger because he was confronted with theft.
The trauma it has caused to the beautiful staff who we love as family, the trauma to our beautiful customers, Linford worked so sincerely to maintain the community vibe with smiles, trust and humanity. A beautiful man, a true gentleman, and my soulmate. Gone forever. God Bless Him. RIP my darling man.”
UPDATE — Wednesday April 23, 8pm: Police believe they have identified the man behind a horror fatal stabbing in Nightcliff, however the alleged attacker remains at large.
NT Police have confirmed the 71-year-old store owner has died following the stabbing at the Nightcliff supermarket on Progress Drive on Wednesday evening.
A spokesman said around 5.15pm an unknown man was stealing items in the store, and the 71-year-old man confronted him and asked him to return the items.
It was alleged that the man then stabbed the business owner with an edged weapon, before fleeing the scene on a bicycle.
Customers and distressed witnesses provided initial first aid until emergency services arrived at the scene.
“Emergency Services responded immediately and attended the scene where CPR was commenced, and the 71-year-old man was pronounced deceased,” a police spokesman said.
He said at this stage, investigators believe they have identified the offender saying “efforts are currently underway to locate him”.
Detectives are urging anyone who has information to make contact on 131 444 or make an anonymous report to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, and quote reference P25111518.
UPDATE – Wednesday, April 23, 7pm: Witnesses have described the horror as a popular business owner was stabbed in his own store.
Police and emergency services were called to the Nightcliff Friendly Grocer on Wednesday evening to reports of a seriously injured man.
It has been confirmed that a man bled out after being stabbed, with witnesses identifying the victim as the owner of the Friendly Grocer store.
Witnesses have said the alleged attacker was attempting to steal items when he was questioned by staff and asked to leave.
A woman who was shopping with her husband at the time said she was a direct witness to the incident.
She told the NT News she was one of the first people to call emergency services about 5.17pm, after the man was stabbed.
“As soon as we entered we heard the voice (of the man), he tried to kick (him out), while (he was) stealing things,” she said.
“Two staff members directed him to the door and suddenly (he) took out a knife and stabbed the man … and he collapsed.”
She said there were a few people who tried to stop the shop worker’s bleeding.
She described the alleged offender as Aboriginal in appearance, “skinny” and wearing black clothes.
Another witness told the NT News she heard shouting in the store before a knife was produced and the lone assailant fled the building towards the foreshore.
NT Police have not confirmed if the alleged offender has been apprehended.
A witness said police arrived after about 15 minutes and ambulance about 10-minutes after the attack, although there has been no official confirmation of those timelines.
Police have confirmed the crime took place but have provided few details at this stage, including an identity of the alleged assailant.
Devastated staff stood outside the supermarket taking in the shocking events and the death of the popular supermarket proprietor who was beloved by shoppers.
The local store is an alternative to the major supermarket chains with its friendly staff led from the front by the deceased man.
INITIAL – Wednesday, April 23, 5pm: A man is dead in a suspected stabbing at a Darwin shopping complex.
Police and emergency services were called to the Nightcliff Friendly Grocer around 5.15pm on Wednesday to reports of a seriously injured man.
The NT News understands the victim is the owner of the Friendly Grocer store.
Witnesses on the scene reported hearing shouting that a man had been reportedly killed.
A NT News reporter at the scene said witnesses were extremely distressed.
A witness told the NT News a man had reportedly stabbed the shop owner on the arm with a knife, before running from the area towards Oleander St, Nightcliff.
A staff member at the nearby Patty Shack Burger Bar at the centre said they had not seen or heard anything until NT Police officers attended about 6pm, and were now “closing the area”.
Nearby service station employee Samip said he feared for his own safety while going into work each day.
“It’s not safe here,” he said.
“A few months ago someone else was stabbed here too.”
Nightcliff local Vida, who frequently shopped at the Friendly Grocer, said she was very upset.
“This sort of violence never used to happen around here,” she told the NT News.
“It’s a shock to all of us.
“We’re a community here.”
Just months ago staff at the Friendly Grocer supermarket voiced concerns about safety at the shopping precinct.
They were among several Nightcliff Village shop owners critical of the lack of police presence despite a new police station being just across the road.
“The only thing it’s reduced is the amount of police we actually see in the area now,” a staff member said in December.
“Safety hasn’t changed — if anything I reckon it’s got worse”.
They also said increased police visibility would help reduce anti-social behaviour and improve public safety.
“There used to be a foot patrol that went around — they really made it a safer place,” they said.
NT Police have been contacted for comment.
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