Two boys have been killed in a suspected targeted attack in Melbourne, with police investigating whether gang violence is behind the double stabbing.
Emergency services were called to Marble Drive in Cobblebank, 33km west of the CBD, just before 8pm on Saturday following reports of a seriously injured person.
On arrival, paramedics found a 12-year-old boy with critical stab wounds.
Despite efforts to revive him, he died at the scene.
A short time later, police responded to a second call less than 200 metres away on Cobble Street.
There, a 15-year-old boy was found seriously injured. He too could not be saved and died at the scene.
Victoria Police confirmed homicide squad detectives were investigating both deaths, which are believed to be linked.
Officers are treating the incident as a targeted attack, though the exact circumstances remain unclear.
The two deceased were found just hundreds of metres away from each other in Cobblebank
There are concerns the attack is gang related, with both victims believed to be children (stock)
‘The exact circumstances surrounding the deaths are still being determined but are believed to be connected,’ Victoria Police said in a statement last night.
‘At this time police are treating it as a targeted attack and the investigation remains ongoing.’
Witnesses reported a black SUV in the area around the time of the stabbings, which detectives are examining as part of their inquiries.
Crime scene vans and an SES tent were set up as officers canvassed the neighbourhood for evidence and spoke with nearby residents, including teenagers who may have witnessed the events.
Locals described the suburb as usually calm and family-oriented.
A woman was seen crying hysterically on Marble St about 9pm as family members tried to comfort her.
It’s understood parents and neighbours said other children were unaccounted for.
One Marble Street resident, who has lived there for seven years, told the Herald Sun: ‘It’s always really quiet here.’
The murders have left the Cobblebank community reeling, with shocked neighbours gathering near the cordons late into the night.
Victoria’s Opposition Leader Brad Battin told The Herald-Sun the horrific scene was a ‘tragic outcome of the crime crisis’ in the state.
‘Too many Victorians have been victims of crime. Last night, two more Victorians were tragically added to that tally,’ he said.
‘When we talk about the crime crisis, we can never lose sight of its human cost. These are not just statistics, they represent lives lost, families shattered, and communities forever changed.’
Anyone with information is being urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
