Teen stabbed during Elizabeth Shopping Centre brawl, three other teen boys arrested
A teenager has been stabbed during a wild brawl in the food court of Adelaide’s busiest shopping centres – with staff barricaded in their shops.
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A teenager was fighting for life in hospital Wednesday night with serious stab wounds and three boys – one aged 14 – were in police custody after a wild knife fight at one of Adelaide’s busiest shopping centres.
Detectives are investigating why the teenage gang – some dressed in school uniform – attacked the 18-year-old victim in the Elizabeth Shopping Centre on Wednesday.
Horrified witnesses told how they fled for cover, or barricaded themselves in adjacent retail stores, as the wild brawl erupted in the Northern Suburbs centre’s food court.
Harrowing video posted online showed a hero security guard intervened after chairs were thrown and one teen ran past afternoon shoppers with kitchen knives in each hand.
The victim, wearing a backpack and also appearing to be armed, was stabbed at least three times in the torso.
BREAKING: A teenager has been rushed to hospital after being stabbed at the busy Elizabeth Shopping Centre. Witnesses say he was attacked during a brawl in front of shocked shoppers. #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/j5H9uY55gj
— 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) October 23, 2024
The student, whose family described as a “beautiful boy” with straight A school grades, was recovering in the Royal Adelaide Hospital Wednesday night with serious injuries after emergency surgery, including a blood transfusion.
Relatives, believed to include his parents and siblings, were keeping a bedside vigil.
He was conscious before he arrived at hospital.
After the warring youths fled, police nearby arrested a 14-year-old boy, of Elizabeth Vale, another teen, 16, of Brahma Lodge and a third male, 17, from Salisbury East.
Northern District CIB detectives were interviewing the gang in custody Wednesday night. Police said the trio were expected to be charged and likely to face the Elizabeth Youth Court on Thursday.
Plain-clothed officers seized a large, blood-covered kitchen from a centre recycling bin.
Police are reviewing extensive CCTV footage, and interviewing students, to identify if others were involved in the assault during a dispute between rival school students.
Witnesses reported some of the almost dozen brawlers wore Playford International College uniforms. An Education Department spokeswoman would not comment.
The victim’s brother told of his horror. “He’s a beautiful kid (with) amazing grades – that’s why I’m so mad,” his brother told 7News at hospital.
“Nothing like this has ever happened,” he said.
Shocked friends said they were “heartbroken” over claims of a gang-related fight.
Authorities, including emergency paramedics, rushed to the Vicinity-owned centre, in the outer-Northern Suburbs, amid reports of an assault just before 2.40pm.
The centre was temporarily locked down and the area closed for forensic testing.
Some shops closed early, but police said there was “no disruption” to centre trade.
One staff member said they were serving a customer, who burst into tears.
Another witness, who was also at the centre, said: “One of the school kids pushed another one on to the floor and started stabbing him about three times,” she said.
“Then I saw a guy from the food court chasing him with a chair and then he threw the knife into Boost Juice and then ran off.”
A shopper, Josh, said he was at KFC when he heard boys argue. “I seen him drop to the floor and I (saw) … the blood on the floor,” he said.
Traders said they were “locked in” their shops and reported hearing “screaming”.
David Ding, a cafe owner for more than 20 years, said customers were unable to enter or exit the complex.
A Vicinity spokesman said it was assisting police.
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Originally published as Teen stabbed during Elizabeth Shopping Centre brawl, three other teen boys arrested
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