Man arrested in Queensland after father is stabbed to death in Mudgee street fight

Tributes have begun flowing for the 22-year-old father, who was allegedly murdered in front of shocked locals late on Saturday night.

A man has been arrested in Queensland after a young father was stabbed to death during a fight outside a home in Mudgee overnight.

Samuel Allen, 22, was allegedly knifed in the stomach by another man following an altercation on Gladstone St in the state’s central west about 11pm on Saturday.

It is understood a number of people were in the vicinity when the altercation occurred, before Mr Allen told a friend he needed medical assistance, at which point he was put into a car and rushed the few minutes drive to Mudgee Hospital.

There, he died a short time later, with NSW Police subsequently establishing a crime scene at the hospital, and beginning a manhunt for his killer.

That manhunt ended about 3.20pm on Sunday when a 28-year-old man handed himself into Toowoomba Police Station - more than eight hours from Mudgee - with NSW Police now set to apply for an extradition warrant in court tomorrow.

Samuel Allen, 22, was allegedly fatally stabbed during a fight in Mudgee on Saturday night, sparking a police manhunt. Picture: Instagram

In a statement, NSW Police said local detectives were being assisted by Homicide Squad investigators and were appealing for any locals with information or vision to come forward.

“Strike Force Dunedin – comprising detectives from Orana Mid-Western PD assisted by State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad – has been formed to investigate the circumstances surrounding the man’s death,” the statement read.

“Police are now speaking with a number of people and are appealing for anyone with information about the incident – or who has dashcam in the vicinity of Gladstone Street between 10.30pm to 10.50pm – to contact Mudgee Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.”

Friends and family began paying tribute to Mr Allen on social media as word of his death spread throughout the country town.

Caitlin Byrnes said the young father was one who “would always light up a room” and that his friends in the community would ensure his son “will always know how much (his father) loved him”.

“’Sammy’ words cannot describe the way many hearts are feeling!” she wrote on Facebook.

“The way you would always light up a room anytime you’d walk in one! You’d always make people laugh no matter what!

“We have some of the best memories, best laughs and I’ll cherish them forever!”

Originally published as Man arrested in Queensland after father is stabbed to death in Mudgee street fight