A wave of separate violent incidents across Melbourne and surrounding areas between early Wednesday morning and late Friday night has left at least two people dead and several others injured. Police are investigating each event as an isolated occurrence, with no evidence of connections between them.
Summary of Incidents
- Collins Street – Man stabbed in the Melbourne CBD.
- Ascot Vale – Fatal shooting of a man in his 30s.
- Fitzroy – Fatal shooting at a major intersection.
- Melbourne CBD – Teenager fatally stabbed near King Street.
- Kew – 18-year-old woman stabbed; alleged attacker later found deceased.
Collins Street Stabbing
Incident
At approximately 2:10 PM on a public street, a 37-year-old man from Mill Park sustained an upper body injury. The incident occurred on Collins Street near its intersection with Elizabeth Street in Melbourne’s central business district.
Response
The man was transported to a hospital in serious condition.
Investigation
Police have not made any arrests. The investigation is ongoing. Authorities are asking witnesses to contact Crime Stoppers.
Ascot Vale Fatal Shooting
Incident
Police were called to North Street in Ascot Vale at approximately 12:15 AM. Officers located a man in his 30s with suspected gunshot wounds.
Response
The man was taken to hospital in critical condition and later died.
Investigation
Homicide Squad detectives are investigating. A crime scene has been established on North Street. Officers have been examining parked cars and nearby retail stores. No arrests have been made. Police are urging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers.
Fitzroy Fatal Shooting
Incident
Emergency services responded to reports of gunshots at the intersection of Brunswick Street and King William Street in Fitzroy shortly after midnight. Upon arrival, a male individual was located with critical injuries.
Response
Medical personnel treated the man at the scene, where he subsequently died. His identity has not yet been formally released.
Investigation
A crime scene was established on King William Street, approximately 100 meters from the Fitzroy Police Station. Police were observed examining a vehicle with a smashed windshield within the cordoned area. Authorities believe the individuals involved in the shooting departed the location in a vehicle before police units arrived. No arrests have been made. Police are requesting individuals with CCTV footage or who witnessed suspicious activity contact Crime Stoppers.
Melbourne CBD Fatal Stabbing
Incident
Emergency services responded to reports of an altercation outside a pub at the intersection of King and Little Bourke Streets around 2:40 AM. A male, believed to be in his late teens, was found on King Street with multiple stab wounds. He was declared deceased at the scene. His identity has not yet been formally released.
Investigation
A 19-year-old man was apprehended a short time later in Aurora Lane. Authorities indicate the two individuals were known to each other. A crime scene has been established. King Street is closed between Bourke and Lonsdale streets. The arrested man is expected to be interviewed by police.
Kew Stabbing
Incident
At approximately 1:00 AM, an 18-year-old woman, identified by family as Leija Michael, was stabbed multiple times in the driveway of her Miller Grove home in Kew. Police allege an 18-year-old man from Camberwell, known to the woman, had waited outside her residence and approached her in the driveway.
Response
The woman sustained life-threatening injuries and was transported to hospital. She is now reported to be in stable condition. A kitchen knife believed to have been used in the attack was located in a garden by police. Neighbors reported hearing screams and alerted authorities.
Investigation and Attacker
Following the incident, police initiated a search for the man. His body was later discovered by a member of the public in Antwerp, Victoria, approximately 350-360 kilometers north-west of Melbourne, after a Triple Zero call. The man's death is not being treated as suspicious. Police have stated they are not seeking additional individuals concerning this event. A report will be prepared for the Coroner.
Family and School Statements
The Michael family, including Dr. Philip Michael, released a statement through Ruyton Girls’ School expressing gratitude to emergency services and hospital staff. They requested privacy and stated they would not comment further.
Trinity Grammar School, where the attacker graduated last year, issued a statement expressing sadness and extending thoughts to the victim and involved families. The school noted that the woman and the man knew each other through their respective schools.
Victoria Police Superintendent Wayne Cheesman described the event as involving the attacker approaching the victim in her driveway.