Multiple violent incidents, including stabbings and a fatal shooting, have occurred across Melbourne in recent months, leading to numerous arrests and charges. Investigations are ongoing into several of these events, with authorities exploring potential links between some of the incidents. Concurrently, new legislation regarding weapon possession and sentencing for violent crimes has been noted.
Authorities are exploring potential links between several violent incidents across Melbourne, which have led to numerous arrests and charges, amid new legislation regarding weapon possession and sentencing for violent crimes.
Incidents and Investigations
New Year's Eve Stabbing on Lygon Street (Carlton)
Around 11:45 PM on New Year's Eve, two men were seriously injured in a stabbing incident outside a restaurant on Lygon Street in Carlton. A 20-year-old man from Heidelberg West and an 18-year-old man from New South Wales sustained serious injuries after reportedly being attacked by a group armed with machetes and knives. Police stated the incident is alleged to have been deliberate, with the involved parties known to each other.
- Charges Filed: A 21-year-old Fitzroy man, a 21-year-old Richmond man, and a 17-year-old boy from the Melbourne area have been charged with offenses including violent disorder, intentionally causing serious injury, and affray. The adult men were remanded to appear in court, and the teenager was remanded to appear in a children's court.
- Ongoing Investigation: Two other individuals, a 19-year-old from Carlton and a 21-year-old from Reservoir, were released pending further investigations. Detectives from the gang crime squad, VIPER organised crime taskforce, and crime investigation unit are leading the inquiry.
Fatal Shooting of Ater Good (Fitzroy)
On January 3, 16-year-old Ater Good was killed in a drive-by shooting near the intersection of Brunswick and King William streets in Fitzroy.
- Charges Filed: A fourth individual, a 20-year-old man from Heidelberg, was arrested and charged with murder in connection with the shooting. Police seized two shotguns during his arrest. He was scheduled to appear at Melbourne Magistrates' Court. Previously, three other men—a 19-year-old Heidelberg West man, a 20-year-old Bundoora man, and a 21-year-old Heidelberg man (apprehended at Melbourne Airport)—were charged with murder and remanded to appear before Melbourne Magistrates' Court on June 15.
- Ongoing Investigation: Another 31-year-old Heidelberg man was arrested but released pending further inquiries. Raids were conducted at properties in Heidelberg and Heidelberg West as part of the investigation.
Operation Firelong
Authorities have established Operation Firelong, involving detectives, regional police, and special units, to investigate both the New Year's Eve stabbing and the Ater Good shooting, and to prevent further violence. Police are investigating potential connections between these two incidents.
Fatal Machete Attack in Mernda
On March 7, Aidan Becker died after being attacked with a machete near Mernda Railway Station. He was reportedly intervening to protect a teenage boy during an armed robbery.
- Charges Filed: A 16-year-old boy, a 17-year-old, and an 18-year-old man have appeared in court charged with murder and armed robbery. A second 17-year-old boy is in hospital and awaiting police interview.
Melbourne CBD Machete Attack (Queen and Flinders Streets)
Early on a Monday, around 2:30 AM, police responded to reports of a machete incident near Queen and Flinders streets in Melbourne's CBD. Two individuals, a woman in her 20s and a man in his 20s, were hospitalized with injuries. The woman was in serious condition with upper-body injuries, while the man was in stable condition with mid-body injuries.
- Arrest: A man was apprehended in connection with the incident and is undergoing police questioning.
- Context: The event occurred during a weekend when Melbourne was experiencing high visitor numbers due to the F1 grand prix season opener and the Moomba Festival.
Mooroolbark Machete Attack
Early on a Tuesday morning, a 64-year-old man was hospitalized with serious injuries after being attacked with a machete in Mooroolbark. The incident followed an earlier encounter in Croydon where a group of teenagers allegedly threw rocks at the victim's house. The man pursued the teenagers to Manchester Road in Mooroolbark, where an altercation occurred, resulting in his injuries. Police reported that the man and the teenagers were not known to each other prior to the incident and are seeking information or footage.
Moomba Festival Blade Seizures
During the Moomba Festival on March 7, police detained a group of teenage boys in the CBD and seized blades, including a meat cleaver and a carving knife.
Legislative Context
Victoria legislated a ban on the sale and ownership of machetes in May 2023, which came into effect on September 1, 2023. Additionally, legislation allowing individuals as young as 14 to be sentenced as adults for violent crimes was implemented on February 27. Both laws were introduced in response to an increase in knife crime across Victoria.