‘Dark day’: Teen on bail before Linford Feick, 71, allegedly killed at Darwin supermarket

A teenager arrested in connection with the fatal stabbing of a beloved Darwin business owner was on bail at the time of the alleged attack, police say.

Police say it has been a “dark day for the Northern Territory” after beloved grocery owner Linford Feick was allegedlystabbed to death at his Darwin business.

An 18-year-old handed himself in to police in the early hours of Thursday and remains in custody, though no charges have been laid.

It is alleged 71-year-old Mr Feick had approached a shoplifter at The Friendly Grocer in Nightcliff and asked them to return the stolen items on Wednesday.

Nightcliff supermarket owner Linford Feick was killed on Wednesday night.

Mr Feick was stabbed in the upper body, with the other person then fleeing the scene on a bicycle.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, NT Police Assistant Commissioner Travis Wurst said bystanders attempted to give Mr Feick CPR while waiting for paramedics.

Paramedics performed CPR on Mr Feick at the scene but he died from his injuries.

Following the incident, police “surged with all available resources ... into the Darwin community” to track down the alleged offender.

“Through (police’s) ongoing engagement with community and family, the (alleged offender) handed themselves into police,” Commissioner Wurst said.

Police confirmed the teenager turned 18 only three days before the alleged attack, and had been on bail with conditions to remain in a remote Territory community.

Commissioner Wurst said the teenager was granted bail on April 17 for “serious matters” and was subjected to strict conditions, though police do not believe he was barred from entering the Darwin CBD.

The teenager was not equipped with an ankle monitoring bracelet as part of his bail conditions.

Commissioner Wurst confirmed police were not looking for anyone else in connection to the incident and said there was no ongoing threat to the community.

A man has been arrested over the alleged fatal stabbing of a 71-year-old supermarket owner. in Darwin. Picture: Darcy Fitzgerald/ NewsWire

Tributes have been pouring in for the Canadian-born grocery owner in the wake of his death.

Mr Feick’s wife Margaret shared a tribute to her husband of 51 years online, remembering him as a “true gentleman and my soulmate”.

“I am sitting here at 3am, too broken to go to sleep because my life has been shattered,” she wrote.

“Linford worked so sincerely to maintain the community vibe with smiles, trust, and humanity.”

The teenager was on bail at the time of the alleged attack. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Locals and loved ones were also heartbroken by Mr Feick’s death, paying tribute to him as a “beautiful man” who had a “gentle soul” and “true empathetic nature”.

“The staff, especially the owner, are some of the kindest, friendliest and most genuine people you could meet,” a person penned online.

Another resident said they were “(gutted) that this could happen to such a great family who provide our community with such (an) essential service”.

Mr Feick’s death rocked the small business community, who said Mr Feick was “a great man” who would be “truly missed by everyone that was fortunate enough to know him”.