Lino Atem was surrounded and attacked by armed assailants

A 24-year-old talented basketballer was fatally stabbed in an ambush attack. The shock death comes two years after his older brother was gunned down.

Police on scene in Haines Drive, Wyndham Vale where Lino Atem, 24, died on Friday. Picture: Ian Currie

A grief-stricken father who has now lost two sons to violent deaths says he needs justice to make sense of the “bad news”.

Lino Atem, 24, and his friends had been hanging out for several hours in Haines Drive Reserve when they were ambushed about 11.30pm on Friday.

One of the last people to speak to Mr Atem before he was attacked told the Herald Sun the young man had been about to return to his Carmichael Drive house, only 100m from where the ­attack ­occurred.

But before he could head home, it is believed more than a dozen assailants armed with knives and machetes approached him and his friends.

Lino Atem, 24, was found dead after an ambush in Wyndham Vale late on Friday night. Photo: Facebook

Lino was a talented basketballer who was described as a homebody by those closest to him. Photo: Facebook

Moving silently – some seen clambering over fences – the offenders surrounded and cornered the group in a laneway.

Without warning, Mr Atem and his companions were set upon, slashed and beaten.

CCTV vision captured those involved fleeing the scene along Haines Drive.

Emergency services found Mr Atem dead soon after.

Two men were taken to hospital with knife wounds and other non-life-threatening ­injuries.

The men, both 27, of Wyndham Vale, were expected to be discharged late on Sunday.

In a heartbreaking twist of fate, the Atem family is still mourning the death of Lino’s older brother, Atem, 29, who was gunned down in their home almost two years ago.

Atem was relaxing with his brothers and a family friend when he was shot multiple times in his garage by masked offenders on February 11, 2023. Ayuel Akuei, 22, and the family dog, Randy, were also shot.

Atem Atem was gunned down in February 2023. Picture: Ian Currie

Ayuel, Atem and the family dog Randy were all remembered at a vigil in the days following their deaths in Wyndham Vale. Picture: Mark Stewart

Speaking on Sunday, father Deng Atem said the entire situation was “very sad”.

The heartbroken father said watching media reports had made him “cry again”.

“(Lino) did everything for me, to help me,” Mr Atem said. “I need justice, of course I need justice, for Lino and Atem.”

According to those closest to him, Lino was a talented basketballer and a big fan of NBA superstar LeBron James.

His mother, Abuk Atem, is believed to have been on holiday in South Sudan when her son was killed.

Lino and his six siblings had spoken with the Herald Sun following brother Atem’s death, saying they hoped to discover who was behind that unprovoked attack.

A photo of their eldest brother and their dog is prominently displayed inside their home.

The family have long ­believed Atem’s death was a case of mistaken identity and still hold out hope police will be able to bring justice to those ­responsible for the attack.

In June 2023, police arrested nine men in relation to the shooting but they were ­released pending further inquiries.

Following the latest killing on Friday, detectives spoke with Atem family members and remained in Wyndham Vale throughout Sunday.

Police confirmed four men, three Wyndham Vale men, aged 26 to 28, and a Manor Lakes man, 24, had been interviewed and released following their arrests on Friday.

Detective Inspector Paul Lloyd said on Saturday there was no obvious motive for the attack but police would probe possible gang involvement.

“We don’t know what the story is behind this yet. I’m sure there is one, and we’ll do everything we can to uncover it,” Inspector Lloyd said.