By Cason Ho, ABC
Elbilo Akueng lost his only son Dau in a stabbing attack on Saturday night. Photo: ABC News
Police are continuing the hunt for a group of masked assailants who stabbed two children in Melbourne's outer-west in what authorities have described as "one of the worst" knife crimes they've seen.
Emergency services were called to Marble Drive in the suburb of Cobblebank, near Melton, just before 8pm (local time) on Saturday where they found a 12-year-old boy with critical injuries.
CCTV vision, seen by the ABC, shows a group of three males chasing the boy through the street. One of the offenders throws what appears to be a bladed weapon at the boy, causing him to fall.
The assailants attack him on the ground before fleeing on foot.
Moments later, a neighbour is seen running across the street towards the boy to attempt to help him.
Clarissa Dunn described the shocking scene when she found the child lying on the ground.
"I heard ... a child screaming ... I came running out just wearing my bra and undies," she said.
"I thought maybe there was an accident but then I saw [him on his own] and that's when I knew, something's not right. I just quickly, like, looked around but I couldn't see anyone, yeah, called triple-0.
She described the boy's injuries as "shocking".
A short while later, police also found 15-year-old Dau Akueng seriously injured nearby on Cobble Street.
Both boys, who police say were friends, died at the scene.
Detective Inspector Graham Banks said the root causes behind youth gang violence need to be addressed. Photo: ABC News
Tributes for 'talented' basketball player among pair killed
Dau's father, Elbino Akueng, pleaded with authorities for answers on Sunday in the wake of his son's death and other recent tragedies in the community.
"We've buried in these two weeks ... four kids. Similar incidents happening, there's no answer from police," he said.
Akueng said his son was returning home from the basketball stadium down the street when he was attacked.
"Multiple kids, they just finished basketball. The basketball stadium is just right there ... he couldn't make it home," he said.
Online records show Dau listed as a player at two games on Saturday at Cobblebank Stadium.
He played for the Collingwood Basketball Association, whose members were mourning the tragic loss.
"Dau played in the same age group as my son and I have had him in my car many times this season, he was a much-loved member of our club and community," general manager Trent Pearson said.
"He was a highly talented player and referee with a cheerful personality who touched all those he interacted with over many years."
Club vice president Duré De Winter described the 15-year-old as a leader who was mature beyond his years.
"We are heartbroken to lose such a beautiful young man," she said.
"He brightened everyone's day with his smile, made the effort to say hello and greet everyone, and was a genuine young leader with his maturity, kindness and good nature - we will miss him dearly."
Aboil Alor says she used to drop Dau Akueng off from basketball each week. Photo: ABC News / Jason Katsaras
Killings come amid rise in youth crime
The alleged attackers had the "hallmarks of youth gang crime" but the victims themselves were unlikely to be gang members, according to police.
Authorities said they were looking for "up to approximately eight offenders" who appeared to be wearing face masks and wielding machetes and other blades.
Victoria's machete ban came into effect at the start of September.
Jatinder, who lives in the neighbourhood where Saturday night's attacks occurred, said she didn't believe the Victorian Government had done enough to curb violent crime.
"For example they say 'we are stopping machetes' - people already got them. I don't think that's going to work. They can buy anywhere [online]," she said.
"I think everybody's so scared to come out."
The woman, who has young children herself, said police did not attend when she alerted them to a previous incident where a large group of men were banging on her garage door.
"Last time when I reported it nobody come and check at all ... there were like 10 of them," Jatinder said.
"I still have that CCTV footage, I called triple-zero straight away, they said 'if you can see them we'll come, if you can't see them there is nothing we can do about it'."
Figures from the Crime Statistics Agency for 2024 show Victoria's crime rate is at its highest level since 2016, driven primarily by theft and young offenders.
The amount of youth crime in the state has risen to its highest level in 15 years despite the number of youth offenders staying relatively stagnant, indicating repeat offenders.
Detective Inspector Graham Banks said Victoria Police was trying to increase the presence of officers in certain areas as a deterrent.
"There's a lot of work that goes into trying to work out where we need to be at particular times, it's very hard to police against every scenario," he said.
"We need to get to the root cause of why these people are joining gangs and to make it a situation where they don't want to be involved in that sort of behaviour."
Akueng family friend, Aboil Alor, whose son drowned in 2021, said the grief of losing a child was unimaginable, and pleaded with authorities to do more to address crime.
"We're here [for a] better life, not bury our children every night and day, you know. Every day we wake up with fear, and we sleep with fear," she said.
"Every week we feel sad news. We don't want that. And I don't want any mother to go [through] the same pain."
-ABC
