By Cindy Yin and Josefine Ganko
A man has died after being found with “horrific” injuries at a home in Sydney’s inner west in what police believe was a drug deal gone horribly wrong.
Officers were called to a home on Kembla Street in Croydon Park after 5pm on Monday following a concern for welfare, and found a 29-year-old man with multiple stab wounds.
A man is dead and another arrested after an alleged “gruesome” stabbing in the inner west.Credit: Nine News
“This is a gruesome crime,” Superintendent Christine McDonald told reporters at the scene on Monday night.
“We are treating this as a homicide.”
The man was initially thought to be in his 50s, but on Tuesday morning, police confirmed he is 29 years old. It’s understood that the severity of his injuries made it difficult to determine his age.
“The man’s injuries are horrific, and what we know from very preliminary investigations … we believe this is a drug deal gone horribly wrong. However, that may change,” McDonald said.
Asked whether there was anything that paramedics could do for the injured man, she replied: “No, it was too late.”
McDonald said officers had responded within minutes of the call and that a 32-year-old man had been arrested at the scene. He was taken to Burwood Police Station and was assisting police with inquiries.
McDonald did not believe the two men were related, and she was unsure whether they were known to each other.
The older man was yet to be formally identified.
The weapon allegedly used in the attack was still believed to be within the crime scene. Police were unaware whether anyone else was in the house at the time, and who lives there.
NSW forensic police process the crime scene on Kembla Street.Credit: Kate Geraghty
While McDonald said the stabbing was probably not linked to domestic or gang-related violence, she did not rule out any possible causes early in the investigation.
She said the community would be “shocked” that something “so brutal has happened in their street”.
A report will be prepared for the information of the coroner.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or nsw.crimestoppers.com.au
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