Teen gangs turn deadly as social media ramps up violence
Fears are growing that social media is escalating youth gang conflict in Victoria after twenty teenagers were charged over eight separate killings in little more than a year.
Police & Courts
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Twenty Victorian teenagers have been charged over homicides in little over a year amid fears the consequences of gang conflict are worsening.
The youths — all males aged between 13 and 18 — have been arrested in the past 13 months over eight separate killings.
At least half of the deaths were allegedly the result of street-level confrontations involving gangs
Overall youth crime has declined for each age group from 12 to 18 in the past decade but there are indications that the severity of higher level offending has increased.
Friction on social media has allegedly been found to have preceded at least three of the killings.
Solomone Taufeulungaki, 15, was reportedly bombarded with threats on Instagram before being fatally attacked at Deer Park.
Nine boys aged 13 to 17 were among 11 people last week charged with the June 16 murder of Solomone.
It is believed to be a record number of people charged over a single murder in Victoria.
A court hearing was recently told Snapchat was used to organise a gang confrontation in which 20-year-old Thomas Tran was stabbed to death at Eaton Mall in Oakleigh on June 29.
An 18-year-old from Dandenong has been charged with Mr Tran’s murder, which happened as up to 20 youths from a range of suburbs brawled.
There have been allegations the fight in which Mohammed Mohammedi was stabbed to death at Corio in August was arranged via Snapchat.
Four youths have been charged and detectives have foreshadowed the possibility of homicide charges being laid.
Veteran youth worker Les Twentyman said social media meant dangerous situations could escalate swiftly.
“Things can come together very quickly with social media. It’s a different world,” Mr Twentyman said.
One teen on remand for one of the homicides last week allegedly severely assaulted a worker at a youth justice centre.
A seasoned youth justice worker said there had always been gang activity and violent teenagers but the severity of the attacks seemed to be worsening.
Some of those accused had travelled long distances to be part of what turned out to be fatal confrontations.
The homicide squad has laid charges over all of the killings allegedly perpetrated by teenagers since September last year.
The Herald Sun revealed in late 2018 that there had been 12 teenagers charged with seven homicides in the preceding 12 months.
Victoria’s latest year-on-year youth crime statistics showed an increase in overall offending, in contrast with the dip in numbers overall since 2011.
The increase was in line with statewide increases in offending.
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