Police have arrested a 15-year-old boy after a ‘lovely’ teenager was stabbed to death at a busy Melbourne shopping centre.
Oscar Hamilton, 16, was allegedly stabbed at Woodgrove Shopping Centre, in Melton West, just before midday on Tuesday.
Paramedics performed CPR, but despite their best efforts, he died at the scene.
The 15-year-old boy was arrested later Tuesday after interviewed by the homicide squad.
It’s understood the arrested teen, from Melton West, knew Mr Hamilton. No ties to youth gangs in the western suburbs have been established.
‘It’s believed there may have been an altercation between the victim and another male,’ Victoria Police said.
‘The exact circumstances surrounding the teenager’s death are yet to be determined.’
Mr Hamilton’s mother reportedly dropped him off at the shopping centre before he was allegedly stabbed ‘several times’ outside La Porchetta, in front of school-holiday diners.
Tributes to Mr Hamilton have since flooded social media with many remembering him as a ‘lovely’ and ‘well mannered’ boy.
The incident comes just days after a local issued a warning to shoppers about possible ‘gang’ issues at the shopping centre.
‘I’ve heard possible issues with gang problems this weekend at Woodgrove,’ the woman wrote on Facebook on Saturday.
‘Hopefully not true… Be aware of your surroundings.’
A woman who works in a shop within the centre told Daily Mail she heard a group of young people ‘yelling and screaming’ as the attack unfolded.
Witness Steve told 3AW the centre was bustling with shoppers at the time of the attack.
‘There has to be 25 police cars and choppers in the sky,’ he said.
‘The food court where it happened is open and there’s people oblivious to it.’
The woman said she was shocked that authorities did not close the plaza in the wake of the incident.
‘All they did was close one entrance. That was it.’
A police helicopter has been deployed in the area as detectives search for the knifeman.
The incident comes after the shopping centre was locked down earlier this year after a fight broke out between two groups of youths armed with machetes and a butcher’s knife.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.