Reprisal feared after Solomone Taufeulungaki stabbed to death, Melbourne Storm calls for violence to end
The fatal stabbing of a teenager in an alleged gang attack has ignited fears of a revenge fight between rival gangs, with extra police deployed across the western suburbs to quell any violence.
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Extra police will be deployed across Melbourne’s western suburbs over the coming weeks to monitor to the threat of reprisal attacks from the alleged murder of Solomone Taufeulungaki.
There are fears rival gangs are arranging a fight in Deer Park tonight night following the fatal stabbing of the 15-year-old outside the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Tuesday afternoon.
Police said this morning there was no update to intelligence surrounding any reprisal attacks but they were continually monitoring their sources and had a plan in place should new information come to light.
Commander Tim Hansen said police were actively talking to local school principals and the Education Department to formulate security measures should there be another “affray or edged weapon attack”.
“From the time of the incident we turned our mind to the likelihood of retribution and reprisal attacks,” he told reporters.
“Since Tuesday we have actually deployed extra police out across Melbourne’s west – mounted branch police, public order response team, PSOs, transit police – all deployed on the ground on Wednesday afternoon.
“That will continue moving forward over the next couple of weeks until we get a sense that the likelihood of retribution or reprisal is minimised.”
Cdr Hansen said the response plan was in place across the entire western suburbs and not just Brimbank and Melton.
He said should intelligence indicate an imminent threat or risk of violence and weapons attacks police could declare a designated area that would give them special stop-and-search powers.
“We are acutely aware of the risk these street gangs present to us, we see it,” Cdr Hansen said.
“We have a tailored person of interest program across Melbourne’s west and also across Melbourne’s southeast because we know there’s an interplay between these gangs.”
Earlier this week, the grief-stricken family of murdered teenager Solomone “Solo” Taufeulungaki returned to the spot where he was stabbed as police stepped up the hunt to catch his killers.
Solomone, 15, was ambushed by a group — allegedly linked to The Brotherhood gang — in a Deer Park car park as he walked home from school on Tuesday afternoon.
Commander Tim Hansen said yesterday police had “received intelligence about the likelihood of rolling reprisals” between two gangs in the area following Solomone’s death, which prompted them to put in place special stop-and-search powers. “We are still actively trying to understand what occurred and speak to further offenders,” Cdr Hansen said.
Members of the Taufeulungaki family yesterday hugged and cried as they placed flowers where Solomone died.
Six youths, aged 13 to 16, have been charged with affray and violent disorder.
No murder charges have been laid.
Police will use special powers over the coming days, with officers able to randomly check people for weapons in a designated area.
Cdr Hansen said knife crime among street gangs was a “wicked and complex” problem in Victoria that had shot up by almost 40 per cent over the past five years.
“These attacks are killing our young people, our teenagers,” he said.
“They purport to be brave, (but) when you examine their behaviour, they are anything but,” Cdr Hansen said.
“This American gang culture seems to be resonating with groups across Melbourne.
“They seek to gain notoriety by ‘swarming’ shops to thieve, and with this brotherhood image. In my experience, they’ll sell each other out at the drop of a hat.”
Melbourne Storm players yesterday paid tribute to Solomone and urged youths in the Pacific Islands community to “stop the violence”.
Tongan-born NRL player Albert Vete said Solomone’s family would be going through
“unimaginable pain” after his violent death.
“Stop the violence, stop the fighting, stop all this hate,” Mr Vete said.
“We ask our youth to please stop the hate and fighting and live harmoniously together.
“To the family, friends and public, we do ask that we end the fighting and the name-calling. We have seen how it has affected Sol’s family and we just want you boys to share peace and to talk about it.
“We feel your pain for what has tragically happened. We pass on our love and prayers to the family.”
Police Minister Lisa Neville described the death of Solomone as a “terrible tragedy”.
“Too young to die,” Ms Neville said.
She commended the grace and courage of his parents, who have publicly discouraged revenge attacks.
“My thoughts are with them, their bravery in standing up and saying ‘Let’s not think of revenge’ has been a really important message,” Ms Neville said.
Responding to questions as to whether Victoria has a gang problem, Ms Neville said: “We have young people who get together, gang or otherwise, commit crimes together and cause harm to one another.
“I don’t want to see 15-year- olds dying on the streets. That is why we need police intervention to stop that. We also need families and communities to step up.”
His cousin Aki Faiva this morning said she saw the horrific incident unfold after Solo had warned her to run away when his attackers approached.
“I was walking with him that day,” Aki told the Today program.
“I was walking with him near the library and then we heard a group of boys run towards us. “So then he told me, ‘Run, Aki. Run, Aki’. I ran across the street to the church and then they got him and that’s when he got beat up.
“I saw everything.”
Aki said her cousin was “very humble, loving, caring”.
“He was really kind. He always protected me even when I didn’t want him to be there. He always looked out for me. He was really funny.”
GRIEVING PARENTS MAKE HEARTBREAKING APPEAL FOR CALM
The parents of Solo made an appeal for calm as they said they had forgiven their son’s killers.
On Wednesday, Solo’s devastated father Antunaisa Taufeulungaki collapsed to the ground and cried as he and his wife Salome visited the scene of their son’s death.
The distraught family, originally from Tonga, said they forgave the people who killed their son and do not want revenge.
“We don’t know who is their (the attackers’) family but we love them,” Mr Taufeulungaki said.
“Everyone dies in a different situation. Heavenly father needed my son to come back.”
His mother said: “We don’t want justice, we just want peace for our son.”
Six boys aged 13 to 16 were on Wednesday charged with violent disorder and affray in connection with the incident. A Children’s Court heard all six had no criminal history and three were released on bail last night.
Several conditions were attached to their bail, including a 10pm to 7am curfew.
Solo — a devout Mormon with no known gang links — died while protecting a friend who was the target of the violence, his family say.
Homicide detectives are investigating whether the fatal ambush is linked to a social media post.
A chilling video posted on Instagram just before the killing shows a suspected Brotherhood gang member saying: “I am going to get back at him. I’m going to stab this p---y”.
On Wednesday guards were placed outside Solo’s school amid fears of violent retaliations. Threats and calls for vengeance were made on social media and police were injured while trying to break up a violent brawl being warring groups of teens at the crime scene on Tuesday night.
Solo — one of 12 siblings —– attended Victoria University College in St Albans and had just stepped off the bus from school when he was attacked by up to 10 thugs armed with knives and baseball bats about 4pm on Tuesday.
He saw the gang coming and warned a friend to run but he was unable to escape, his loved ones say.
The teen was killed directly opposite his family church — the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — and his father said he hoped his spirit would live on there.
“We feel sad. That is my church. My son comes to this church. I believe he will join us at this church every Sunday,” he said.
Members of the Tongan community gathered last night to sing hymns at the spot where Solo was killed, placing flowers and balloons at the site.
An online fundraising drive for Solo’s family had raised almost $20,000 on Wednesday night.
The fundraiser described him as “a caring, kind, selfless and humble soul”.
“He had an incomparable sense of humour and was often referred to as a big teddy bear,” they said.
“He always put others before himself and his presence always warmed up a room.”
On Wednesday friends and schoolmates of Solo left flowers, cards and a Tongan flag at the site of his killing.
Sitiveni Atonio, 16, said he was “shocked” by the death of his mate and that his generation was “all about fighting and killing”.
“I don’t know why this generation is all about shanks and shivs and killing each other,” he said. “They don’t know how parents feel when they’re waiting for their kids to come home from school.
“They shouldn’t have to bury their own children.”
Homicide detectives returned to the scene on Wednesday afternoon and searched bushes near the car park.
The investigation is continuing and anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
— To donate to Solomone’s family, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/family-of-solomone-taufeulungaki
FRIENDS BLAME CONFLICT WITH ‘THE BROTHERHOOD’
In a chilling live Instagram video believed to be filmed hours before the attack, a youth believed to be from the Brotherhood gang can be heard bragging about plans to stab someone.
It can also be revealed two gangs had been running amok at Brimbank Shopping Centre just weeks earlier, with members from the 97 gang posting photos to social media of police chasing them, with one of the gang members writing: “Running from the boys in blue”.
Western suburbs youth worker Maria Kumer said tensions between the Sudanese community and Pacific Islander community had been “brewing” for some time.
“They have this hate for one another, I don’t think they really know themselves why this is brewing,” Ms Kumer said.
“It’s a territorial thing between the two cultures, one wants to be better than one another. I don’t think the kids even know why the tensions are brewing.
“One wants to be better than the other.”
Ms Kumer said the tensions boiled over from the schoolyard into the community.
“Schools have rules about not tolerating any violence, so usually kids take it out into the community,” she said.
“This young person has come from a very good family background.
“There is bad blood between the Sudanese and Pacific Islander young people. Just bad blood. It has to be addressed.
“It is certainly not the first (fight) between the two groups and it’s not going to be the last, it is going to keep going.”
Solo was killed as he made his way home from school on Tuesday.
His friends alleged a group of thugs wielding knives and baseball bats ambushed him outside Brimbank Shopping Centre about 4pm.
The friends claimed those responsible for the attack were part of a gang who called themselves the “BH” or “The Brotherhood”.
Police said up to 10 assailants were involved in the attack and six people were arrested after allegedly running from the scene.
School friend Sitiveni Atonio, 16, alleged the gang came armed with knives and bats.
He believed Solo was not the intended target of the attack and was protecting a friend.
“With this generation everything is about fighting and killing and stuff,” he said.
“I don’t know why this generation is all about shanks and shivs and killing each other.
“They don’t know how parents feel when they’re waiting for their kids to come home from school.
“They shouldn’t have to bury their own children.”
In the hours after the death, about 30 people gathered at the crime scene.
Most were hugging one another and crying, however the gathering turned violent when a group charged through police tape and started brawling about 7.30pm.
The brief altercation ended with a number of people wrestling in the middle of the road.
Two police officers were injured and had to be treated by paramedics.
Shadow Police Minister David Southwick said the teen’s death was a failure of the government to address spiralling youth offending.
“This tragic incident is a painful reminder of the violent youth crime crisis in Victoria,” Mr Southwick said.
“Without action youth crime is a clear threat to our community safety now and into the future.”
SCHOOL UNDER WATCH AS CLASSMATES MOURN
Several police crews including the Public Order Response and mounted branch patrolled the scene this morning.
Homicide squad detectives searched through the bushes outside the church in the carpark area.
The scene has been visited by a steady stream of mourners, many in school uniforms, who have peacefully paid their respects.
Friends of Solo left flowers and prayers at the site.
James, who attends Victoria University College with Solo, said he was “shocked” at the violent killing.
“I’m shocked and angry,” he said. “He was a good kid, a church kid.
“He loved hanging out with his mates, loved his food. He was always scabbing food off me.
“He loved his sport … rugby, soccer, anything.”
He said the death of the year 10 student was “heartbreaking”.
“I’m lost for words, gutted,” he said.
School friends have left flowers at the scene.
Two boys were seen crying as they stood in the place their mate was killed.
Grieving friends described Solomone as a “bubbly” and “bright” student.
Two uniformed police officers arrived at the senior campus about 8.10am, and were joined by five units from the Public Order Response team later in the morning.
Teachers stood at the gate of the teen’s school, greeting students as they arrived for class ahead of a troubling day for the school community.
Officials from the school locked the front gates about 9.20am, causing confusion for latecomers.
The school had hired security guards to monitor the campus this morning, and one boy arrived at the senior campus with a box of flowers.
A teacher was seen wiping tears from her face on the school grounds.
Family friend Tatyana Taufa said, “It’s just stupid. He’s gone way too soon.
“It’s heartbreaking to see yet another one of our own gone to the ignorance.”
Ms Taufa said the boy was not affiliated with any gangs.
She said he was a friendly boy who enjoyed rugby, and attending the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints with his family.
“He was very bubbly, very funny, always putting a smile on other people’s faces,” she said.
Another friend, who asked not to be named, said she was devastated to learn her schoolmate had died.
“He’s such a nice kid I don’t know how he’s got himself caught up in this situation,” she said.
“He was always smiling, always happy, always doing the right thing by his parents.”
Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit crimestoppersvic.com.au
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