A 15-year-old boy has been charged after a ‘well mannered’ teenager was allegedly stabbed to death in front of shocked bystanders at a busy Melbourne shopping centre.
Oscar Hamilton, 16, was allegedly stabbed during an altercation in an outdoor food court of Woodgrove Shopping Centre, in Melton West, just before midday on Tuesday.
Paramedics performed CPR, but despite their best efforts, he died at the scene.
A 15-year-old boy from Melton West was arrested later on Tuesday and spent the night being interviewed by the detectives.
He has since been charged with one count of murder and will appear at a children’s court at a later date.
Police alleged the boy and Oscar were known to each other but insist 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.’
Police have arrested a 15-year-old boy from Melton West after Oscar Hamilton (pictured), 16, was stabbed to death at a busy Melbourne shopping centre
Oscar, 16, was allegedly stabbed at Woodgrove Shopping Centre, in Melton West, just before midday on Tuesday. Pictured are forensic officers at the scene
Several tributes to Oscar (pictured) were shared online in the hours after his death
Oscar was allegedly stabbed ‘several times’ outside La Porchetta, in front of shocked bystanders. Pictured are witnesses consoling each other
It’s understood the weapon allegedly used is yet to be recovered by police.
It’s understood Oscar’s mother dropped him off at the shopping centre before he was allegedly stabbed ‘several times’ outside La Porchetta, in front of school holiday diners.
Police say Oscar mother has been with assisting investigators, who have since obtained CCTV of the alleged murder.
Oscar’s death sparked an outpouring of tributes on social media, led by his girlfriend Briannan Hibbert.
She has created a public Facebook group to commemorate the 16-year-old’s life as she remembered Oscar as a ‘beautiful soul that I was lucky enough to call my boyfriend’.
‘It was never meant to end this way but I’m guessing heaven needed you more than us,’ she wrote.
‘Nobody will ever get over this. You filled everyone’s life with so much light and joy. You never failed to bring a smile to faces.
‘Life will never be the same without you. My heart will forever ache knowing that you are gone.
‘I will never forgive who did this to you. We are going to get you justice, don’t you worry.’
‘Everyone was so lucky to have you in their life. This world was too cruel for your beautiful soul.’
Many heartbroken friends remembered Oscar as a ‘lovely’ and ‘well mannered’ boy.
‘You will be missed, Oscar. Words can’t describe how much everyone is going to miss you. You were too young to die,’ one wrote.
Another friend added: ‘It breaks my heart knowing I won’t see you anymore but I’m extremely grateful for every memory we’ve had and all the moments we shared on the way. You were the bestest (sic) and funniest friend any of us could have asked for.’
A third wrote: ‘My heart sank when I heard you were no longer with us. My heart aches for your family. You didn’t deserve this at all.’
A fourth one posted: ‘Rest in peace and love sweet boy. You were the sweetest soul ever. You had such a gorgeous smile and a very contagious laugh. You were such a people pleaser, never liked any conflict. No words can describe how much I will miss you. You never deserved what happened to you.’
Police (pictured at the scene) have since charged a boy, 15, over the fatal stabbing
Pip Ware, who met Oscar on a few occasions through her dauter was devatated for his family.
‘It’s tragic, it’s heartbreaking, I can’t even begin to imagine what these kids are going through,’ she told the Herald Sun.
‘It’s something these children should not have to deal with. He was a lovely, well-mannered kid.’
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 at the centre told Daily Mail Australia 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.’
It’s understood the arrested teen from Melton West knew Oscar. No ties to youth gangs in the western suburbs have been established
The alleged victim’s mother reportedly dropped him off at the shopping centre before the attack
Victoria Police said ‘the exact circumstances surrounding the teenager’s death are yet to be determined’. Pictured is a girl placing flowers at the scene
A police helicopter was 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.
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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk