Slain teen Hashim Mohamed survived Truganina crash that killed four mates

A teen stabbed to death in St Kilda “couldn’t save himself” after being critically injured in a car crash that killed four of his mates.

A slain teen killed in a violent knife attack on the St Kilda foreshore survived a horror Truganina car crash that killed four of his mates just 15 months ago.

It comes as leaders of Melbourne’s African community have hit out at the “senseless killings” of young people in the wake of the suspected gang attack of Hashim Mohamed, 18, who was killed on Sunday after being set upon by armed assailants.

The Herald Sun can reveal the Tarneit teen was critically injured in a collision on September 30, 2021, which killed four young men and critically injured another young man.

The crash was linked to an altercation earlier in the night where a group of at least three men set upon the victims’ car armed with baseball bats outside Tarneit Shopping Centre on Derrimut Rd.

Hashim Mohamad was fatally stabbed at a crowded St Kilda foreshore on Sunday. Picture: Supplied

The homicide squad took carriage of the investigation but is yet to lay charges more than a year on.

President of the Victorian Somali Community Farah Warsame said Mr Mohamed had defied the odds by emerging from a coma following last year’s head-on collision.

Mr Warsame said the victim had been unable to run away from the assailants in St Kilda due to his physical condition.

“When the fighting started, people ran away from the area to stay safe but this guy couldn’t because he already had been in a very bad accident,” he said.

“He couldn’t run, he couldn’t save himself.

“Our community is in shock, but we are looking for justice to be performed. He was trying to build a future for himself.”

Mr Mohamed’s death has prompted community leaders to speak out about escalating levels of street violence.

Hanad Hersi, programs manager at multicultural support organisation Youth Activating Youth, said Melbourne’s streets were “full of blood”.

“We really need to start asking ourselves real hard questions around what the actual f--- is going on,” he said.

“Our young kids are dropping like flies.”

The scene of the crash in Truganina in which four men lost their lives. Picture: Josie Hayden

Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said the government would work with police and community leaders to respond to knife crime.

“Of course, what we’ve seen are some very tragic and distressing incidents,” she said.

“I want to extend my sympathies to the families of those who have been affected, including through the death of loved ones.

“Obviously, knife crime is completely unacceptable and our government will continue to work with Victoria Police (and) with community leaders on ensuring that we’ve got the appropriate responses in place.

“There are individual matters before the courts at the moment and I won’t be making further comment on any of those.”

The Herald Sun has uncovered dozens of images of Melbourne-based youth gang members brandishing weapons, including machetes.

In one Instagram post, a male poses with a knife and uses the last two digits of his postcode as the caption.

Police sources said tensions had “escalated” in recent months between rival youth gang members across Melbourne.

“I have feared for months that someone was going to get killed or seriously injured as a result of gang violence and it’s now sadly happened,” one police source said.

“Tensions have escalated in recent months between rival gangs from Melbourne’s southeast and west. They are meeting up at shopping centres and train stations to fight.

“These gangs are trying to show their power and authority. They are using social media to fuel their notoriety and that’s making matters worse.”

Another police source said: “The trends we’re seeing with youth gangs is that they are using the last two digits of their postcodes as their gang names.”

Detective Inspector Nigel L’Estrange, of the homicide squad, said investigators ­believed Mr Mohamed’s death was a result of “a fight between approximately five to six African males”.

No arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing.