Seven teenagers have been arrested over the stabbing deaths of 15-year-old Dau Akueng and 12-year-old Chol Achiek in Melbourne’s west.
Police have confirmed that a 19-year-old Thornhill Park man, a 19-year-old Caroline Springs man, an 18-year-old Wollert man, along with three 16-year-old boys and a 15-year-old boy, all from the north-west suburbs of Melbourne, were arrested on Friday morning after raids on homes by homicide squad detectives.
The seven teenagers were being interviewed by police.
Dau and Chol were walking home from a basketball game on 6 September when they were allegedly attacked on separate streets in Cobblebank, in the city’s west, by masked assailants armed with machetes and long-edged weapons.
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At the time, Victoria police Det Insp Graham Banks said the case had “the hallmarks of youth gang crime”, though the duo were not members.
Chol’s father, Chuti Ngong, described his son as a “lovely” and “peaceful boy” at a candlelight vigil last week.
“He loved everybody – loved all the family, siblings, everybody,” he said.
Terry Koumides, who met Dau in 2020 through a youth basketball program, described him as “a sweet kid”.
“He was a contributor, he was well-mannered,” he said. “He was polite.”
Manny Hendrix, Dau’s basketball coach, said he had dreams of playing for the NBA. “Basketball was his life,” he said.
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Since the deaths a “significant investigation” by the homicide squad has been under way to “collect all available evidence”, police said on Friday.
Police had also increased patrols in Cobblebank as part of community reassurance efforts, and met with schools, council and community leaders.
The investigation was ongoing. Anyone with information was urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online.
