A 15-year-old boy in hospital has been charged with murder after an 18-year-old man died after being stabbed during a wild brawl in Melbourne’s outer north-west on Friday night.
Police were called to McBurnie Drive in Kurunjang, near Melton, about 7pm on Friday after reports of a large fight involving about 40 youths, some of whom were brandishing knives.
The 18-year-old from Kurunjang was found by police with stab wounds and died at the scene.
A man, 22, and the 15-year-old boy, both from nearby Harkness, presented to hospital with non-life threatening injuries and were placed under police guard.
The boy has since been charged with murder and will face a children’s court at a later date.
The 22-year-old remains in hospital under police guard, but has not been charged.
On Saturday, Acting Superintendent Kelly Walker told reporters that a preliminary investigation indicated the stabbing was allegedly a targeted attack.
Walker said investigators believed the parties were known to each other, and police were concerned by the number of young people involved in the brawl.
“I think the community should definitely feel unrest,” Walker said.
“We’ve got large groups ... We do have weapons that were reported at the scene … We have a victim, and we have parents now without a child at Christmas.”
In a separate incident, police have identified the victim in what they believe was a targeted shooting in a quiet suburban street in Campbellfield, in Melbourne’s north, also on Friday night.
Mahmoud Karam, a 60-year-old from nearby Craigieburn, died in hospital from his injuries after he was shot outside a property in Gentles Avenue about 10.10pm.
Police found Karam lying on the street with gunshot wounds. He was rushed to hospital but died.
Two men remain under police guard in hospital but are yet to be interviewed.
The pair, a 20-year-old from Yarraville and a 22-year-old from Westmeadows, came to police attention after being dropped at a hospital with injuries investigators believe could be linked to the fatal shooting.
Detectives have released CCTV footage of a Porsche they believe was linked to the shooting. The Porsche was found burnt-out in Northbourne Road, Campbellfield just after 11pm on Friday.
Police said on Sunday they believed the shooting was targeted and investigations continue.
Anyone who witnessed the incident, with dashcam/CCTV footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
With Melissa Cunningham and Roy Ward
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