Newly released video shows heavily armed police officers scouring a suburban backyard during their pursuit of one of the teenage boys later charged over the death of grandmother Vyleen White.
Ms White, 70, was at Town Square Redbank Plains Shopping Centre with her six-year-old granddaughter, near Ipswich west of Brisbane, when she was allegedly stabbed in the chest in the car park on Saturday night.
Five teenagers, aged between 15 and 16, have now been arrested and charged in relation to her death and alleged carjacking. A 16-year-old boy has been charged with murder.
Home security footage has now surfaced of two heavily armed officers roaming around the backyard of a home in Bellbird Park on Monday afternoon.
One officer, who was carrying a large rifle, gave a thumbs up to the other officer as they took positions at different areas of the garden behind a wooden fence, while dogs were heard barking in the background.
Vyleen White, 70, had been with her six-year-old granddaughter at Town Square Redbank Plains Shopping Centre, west of Brisbane , when she was allegedly stabbed in the chest in the centre’s car park on Saturday night
Plastic chairs had been stacked in the backyard while a child’s slide was also seen.
A neighbour snapped a photo of one of the officers walking past their window during the arrest.
A 15-year-old boy first handed himself into police on Sunday and was charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle in relation to Ms White’s allegedly stolen blue Hyundai Getz.
Another boy, 16, has now been charged with murder, unlawful use of a motor vehicle and stealing after being arrested at a unit in Bellbird Park on Monday afternoon. He will face the Ipswich Children’s Court on Tuesday.
The remaining three teenagers have been charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle, and are due to appear in separate courts on Tuesday.
The second 15-year-old is also facing a charge of possessing tainted property.
CCTV has now surfaced of two heavily armed officers roaming around the backyard of a home in Bellbird Park on Monday afternoon
The officers were seen roaming around the backyard of a house believed to belong to one of the teens arrested in relation to Ms White’s murder
A neighbour is seen looking out his window to see a heavily armed officer on Monday afternoon
Ms White died at the scene, while her granddaughter, who watched the horror unfold, was unharmed.
Detectives had earlier released CCTV footage of four youths in a Hyundai Getz, allegedly stolen from Ms White.
‘Sadly the motive was to steal a Hyundai Getz,’ Queensland Police Detective Acting Superintendent Heath McQueen said of the fatal stabbing.
‘I stand before you today talking to you about a murder of a grandmother in front of a six-year-old … and the result was a stolen Hyundai Getz – that is the motive.’
He described it as a ‘callous, cowardly, violent crime’.
‘She was a loving, family woman,’ he said.
‘She was taking her granddaughter to the shops. This is senseless violence.’
CCTV footage shows youths at the shopping centre shortly before 5pm on Saturday – an hour before Vyleen White died
In the wake of Ms White’s death, one of her granddaughters, Samantha White, has set up a petition calling for stricter laws and penalties.
‘This devastating event has led me to realise the urgency of addressing gang-related and racially motivated violence in our community,’ Samantha wrote.
‘It is a harsh reality that such incidents are not isolated but part of a growing trend.’
She said gang violence had soared in the last few years, citing figures from the n Institute of Criminology.
‘We need stricter laws and harsher punishments for these heinous crimes,’ the petition continued.
‘We need reforms that will make our streets safer and ensure that no other family has to endure the pain we have experienced.
‘Help make everyone’s lives safer sign to make Vyleen’s Law possible.’
Vyleen White (pictured) was stabbed to death in the underground carpark of Town Square Redbank Plains Shopping Centre on Saturday