Police looking for teenage boy after fatal Sunshine stabbing of Pasawm Lyhym

Homicide detectives have urged a teenage boy to come forward after a 16-year-old boy was stabbed to death at Sunshine Station.

Pawam Lyhm, 16, died in front of shocked onlookers at Sunshine Station.

Homicide detectives are searching for a 17-year-old boy after the fatal stabbing of a 16-year-old schoolboy at Sunshine train station last week.

Pasawm Lyhym was stabbed to death near the station’s bus interchange on Thursday afternoon in front of shocked onlookers, including his cousin, where several knife-wielding teens were captured on CCTV fleeing the scene.

Investigators are now searching for another teenager who they believe is connected to the teen’s slaying, as they continue to probe the exact circumstances leading to the Pasawm’s death.

Pasawm Lyhym, 16, was fatally stabbed at Sunshine Station.

Detective Inspector Dean Thomas said police believed the teenager returned home on Thursday after the stabbing, then left again on Friday morning.

He has not been seen since, but his family have been “very cooperative” in helping police to locate him.

“Obviously they have concern about their son’s wellbeing and welfare — they are working with us to try and locate their son in the hope that they can get him to come and see us,” Mr Thomas said.

“People need to be aware that if you are harbouring or assisting (him) to avoid speaking to police, then they may find themselves subject to accessory to this murder.

“He’ll be floating around out there, and people will know where he is.

“If he sees this release today, I ask that you please come forward as soon as you can so that we can talk to you about this incident.”

Retaliation from “tit for tat” rivalry groups in Sunshine and Braybrook is also of concern to police, with extra forces and “reassurance patrols” deployed to the areas to mitigate risk.

“Local police out in the Sunshine area are working very, very closely with the community - with everybody - in that area to avoid any form of retaliation,” Mr Thomas said.

“Obviously we’ve had two groups of people involved in this incident so there is always concern — but we’ve got extra patrols in the area.”

The scene in Sunshine where Pasawm Lyhym died. Picture: Luis Enrique Ascui

A desperate appeal was made to families by Mr Thomas to “take responsibility for our own children” in light of grievous knife violence among teens.

“We need to know where they are and what they’re up to.

“Talk to them about what’s going on and have those conversations.”

He said when children were being seriously injured, maimed for life and even killed, maintaining a transparent relationship with your kids was of utmost importance.

He is described as being between 185 and 190cm tall, with a slim build and black hair in a short dreadlocks style.

He is known to frequent the Sunshine, Hillside, Braybrook and Sydenham areas.

The attack is understood to have been sparked by brewing tensions between youth from two different schools on social media in the weeks before Pasawm’s death.

Detectives last week questioned a 17-year-old Caroline Springs boy and an 18-year-old from Burnside, but have not laid any charges.

Both teens were released pending further inquiries.

Loved ones pay tribute at Sunshine Station after Pasawm’s death. Picture: Luis Enrique Ascui

Speaking with 3AW’s Neil Mitchell on Tuesday morning, Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said there were growing concerns of revenge attacks as detectives had yet to locate him.

He conceded the state was in the midst of a “youth crime crisis,” but insisted juvenile crime rates had not spiked.

“It’s not getting better. Any crime’s one too many. We’re not seeing huge increases in youth crime by any stage — it’s either been declining or staying stable.

“When we see the reports of these significant events that youths are involved in, obviously it’s very concerning for us and all of the community.”

Members of the public have been told not to approach Atem if they see him but to instead call triple-0.