Friends of a young fitness fanatic stabbed to death in Melbourne admit he previously had links to violent street gangs, but had recently managed to ‘turn his life around’.
Thomas Tran, 20, was allegedly killed when he got caught up in a fight as he walked home from a gym in Oakleigh, a suburb in the city’s south-east, on Monday evening.
Tran’s death is the third fatal stabbing on Melbourne’s streets in as many weeks.
The spate of deaths have led to fears over rising gang violence, however friends and family of the latest stabbing victim were quick to claim he was in the ‘wrong place at the wrong time’.
Stabbing victim Thomas Tran (centre, with hat backwards) had left behind violent street gangs and ‘turned his life around’ after falling in love, friends of the 20-year-old have revealed
Tran, 20, (pictured with his mum Amy) was allegedly killed when he got caught up in a fight as he walked home from a gym in Oakleigh, a suburb in the city’s south-east, on Monday evening
Tran’s friends and family were quick to claim he was in the ‘wrong place at the wrong time’
‘Thomas was innocent. Wrong place, wrong time,’ one of Tran’s friends wrote.
‘He was not in a gang, he already grew out of that stage like three or four years ago… he turned his life around and fell in love.
‘He only goes to Oakleigh to catch up with his mates that live in the area, by mates I don’t mean gang members, I mean actual friendships.’
Among the photos posted in tribute to Tran was one that showed him throwing up a gang sign with his hand.
Tran’s shattered girlfriend visited the crime scene on Tuesday afternoon and begged for the violence to stop.
Trish Nguyen, his girlfriend of more than two years, said she hopes those people that killed him ‘get what you f***ing deserve’.
‘They’re too worried about being cool. It’s not fair anymore, it needs to stop,’ she told media.
‘We’ve lost a loved one, it’s really not worth it.
Tran’s friends, his local politician and former school were among those to pay tribute to him in the wake of his death
Mr Tran’s girlfriend Trish Nguyen (pictured) tearfully begged for the violence to stop during an emotional ceremony at the crime scene on Tuesday
‘You shouldn’t do that to people’s families. I hope you get what you f***ing deserve for doing that to him.’
Ms Nguyen paid tribute to her boyfriend, saying he always put others before himself.
‘He really cared about people and he really loved everyone. He put everyone before him,’ she said.
Tran’s heartbroken mother Amy also collapsed to the ground as she visited the scene on Tuesday morning.
Comforted by relatives, she lit incense at the makeshift shrine that grew dramatically in size throughout the day as mourners took bouquets of flowers to the scene.
Victoria Police arrested three people aged between 15 and 20 over the attack, but all have since been released.
The exact circumstances surrounding the incident are being investigated.
Machar Kot (pictured), died after being stabbed while out in Melbourne’s CBD on Monday, June 22
Solomone Taufeulungaki (pictured), 15, was stabbed and killed in Deer Park on June 16
Solomone’s devastated parents attended the Brimbank Shopping Centre where their son was killed on Wednesday morning but instead of adding to the rising tensions they called for calm
Atunaisa Taufeulungaki collapses to the ground in tears near where his son died as he and his wife Salome prepare to add to the makeshift memorial in honour of their teenage boy
Police are appealing for anyone who may have been in the area of Chester Street and Atherton Road between 7.30pm and 8pm on Monday and who have camera footage to come forward.
Tran’s death comes after Solomone Taufeulungaki, 15, was stabbed and killed in Deer Park on June 16 and Machar Kot, 21, died of knife wounds in the CBD on June 22.
In the aftermath of Taufeulungaki’s death, his friends claimed he was ‘jumped’ by a gang called ‘The Brotherhood’.
They also alleged the gang had vowed to get ‘another one’.
‘They carry like machetes, guns, just like small guns,’ the friend told A Current Affair.
‘If it was my choice, I would go for revenge but this is the parents’ choice and they forgive them.’
‘Rest In Love Toko. Actually speechless aye, all I know is that I will see you again,’ Mape Taufeulungaki (right) wrote alongside a picture with his brother Solomone (left)
A police officer stands guard at the crime scene outside Brimbank Shopping Centre in Melbourne’s outer western suburbs
Much like Tran’s mother, Taufeulungaki’s parents also visited the scene of their son’s death the day after the tragedy.
While there were calls for retaliation against the alleged perpatrators, the parents of the dead boy called for calm and said they had forgiven his attackers.
‘We want our son back home… we don’t need any justice,’ Solomone’s mum Salome Taufeulungaki said tearfully.
Six teenagers have been charged in relation to Taufeulungaki’s death, while 22-year-old Marco Deng handed himself into police over the death of Kot.