A young man found dead with stab wounds in a Melbourne park has been identified as a talented basketball player.
Kioyom Athum, 28, was discovered in Balmoral Park in Derrimut, about 22km west of the CBD, during the early hours of Saturday morning.
Paramedics attempted to revive him but he died at the scene at about 4.30am.
Mr Athum played forward-guard for Goldbackz in the semi-professional Melbourne Basketball League.
On Saturday, two visibly distressed women visited the crime scene and repeatedly shouted ‘just let me see him one more time,’ the Herald Sun reports.
Police were seen consoling the pair but steered them away from the marquee covering the 28-year-old’s body.
Victorian Police Detective Inspector Dean Thomas said Mr Athum was last seen by his sister about 9pm in the Derrimut area.
It is believed he was in the company of four other males.
Basketballer Kioyom Athum, 28, has been identified as the man found dead in Balmoral Park in Melbourne’s west during the early hours of Saturday morning
Inspector Thomas said homicide detectives were still trying to piece together Mr Athum’s movements between 9pm and 4.20am.
The talented basketball player was not known to have any links to gangs.
Sections of Balmoral Park were cordoned off with police tape on Saturday while a marquee shielded Mr Athum’s body from public view.
Investigators said they have found ‘several knives’ in the park.
Inspector Thomas said the knives would have to be forensically examined to determine if they had any connection to the suspected stabbing.
Police were also trying to identify whether a group of males that called them to the scene were associated with Mr Athum.
‘We’re trying to find out what connection they have to the deceased. We believe there may have been other people present in the park at the time who may have run off,’ Inspector Thomas said.
Police were seen combing the area around the stabbing with an officer saying several knives had been found in the vicinity
An SES marquee was set up in Balmoral Park to shield Mr Athum’s body from public view
Detectives were seen knocking on doors at Lennon Parkway on Saturday morning.
Inspector Thomas urged anyone with information to come forward.
‘We’re appealing for anybody that was in the area at the time, driving through, walking nearby etc that saw anything suspicious,’ he said.
‘We’ve spoken with local police and they’re putting further patrols out in the area, so residents should expect to see more police in the area over the coming days.’
Anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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