St Albans stabbing victim Ethan Hoac was ‘a really kind boy’, his grandmother Thu says

The grieving grandmother of slain schoolboy Ethan Hoac has spoken out on the scourge of knife crime in Melbourne as loved ones gathered for a vigil.

The grandmother of slain schoolboy Ethan Hoac says she is “troubled for young boys” as she mourns her grandson, the latest ­victim of a scourge of knife crime in Melbourne.

Ethan’s grandmother Thu described the 14-year-old as “kind” and “funny”, adding he was loved by many.

“He was a really kind boy, really funny, a fun person to be around,” Thu said of her grandson.

“He had many friends who loved him, you can see that here today.

Ethan Hoac's grand mother Thu says her grandson was a ‘really kind boy’. Picture: Mark Stewart

Flowers and candles placed as a tribute to stabbing victim Ethan Hoach. Picture: Mark Stewart

“I love him, he loved me. I’m so sad to see him go. I watched him grow up.”

The grieving grandmother said she was concerned about a growing trend of knife crime among Melbourne teens.

She referenced schoolboy Pasawm Lyhym, fatally stabbed outside Sunshine railway station in daylight on May 18. “I’m very troubled for young boys,” she said. “I remember the boy in Sunshine not long ago, I watched that story. Last night I watched the TV and my grandson was a story.”

A close friend of Ethan’s said the teen was robbed by a gang and stripped of his clothes on a Werribee street last week.

Ethan Hoac was fatally stabbed in St Albans.

He was in year 9 at Braybrook College.

“He got robbed by this gang, they took his phone, clothes, everything they could,” friend Chrissy said. “Ethan was mad and upset.”

She said there had been ongoing tensions between teenagers who wanted to hurt one another.

“People tried to make him fight with them, he always avoided it and would tell me he didn’t want to fight those people,” Chrissy said.

“I would tell him to ‘Leave it’ and not message them back. He tried to keep away from it as much as he could.”

Friends and family held a candlelight vigil on Wednesday evening at Bailey St in St Albans, where Ethan was ­attacked. He and two friends were walking from Ginifer station in Melbourne’s northwest when an SUV chased them, striking Ethan. As he lay in the street, two men got out and attacked him before he was fatally stabbed.

Friends said Ethan was a joker and ‘made everyone laugh’.

Many arrived with framed pictures, cards and flowers to lay by a tree near where Ethan was attacked. Tears flowed as the group lit candles as others exchanged hugs.

Jayden said Ethan was a joker who made everyone laugh. “Ethan was such a great friend. He was so amazing and thoughtful, I miss him so much already,” he said.

“He made everyone laugh all the time and cheered them up when they were down, he was truly amazing. It just hurts so much.”

Victoria Police are yet to make any arrests over what they have described as a targeted attack.