Police take major action after teenage boy allegedly stabbed to death in shopping mall food court

Police have arrested a 15-year-old boy after a teenager was stabbed to death in a busy Melbourne shopping centre.

Emergency services were called to the Woodgrove Shopping Centre in Melton West just before midday on Tuesday after reports of a 16-year-old boy having been stabbed.

Emergency services performed CPR, but despite their efforts he died at the scene.

The 15-year-old boy was arrested later on Tuesday after being questioned by the homicide squad.

The arrested Melton West teenager is understood to have known the alleged victim. No links to youth gangs in the western suburbs have been established.

“There was an altercation between the victim and another man,” Victoria Police said.

“The exact circumstances surrounding the teenager’s death have yet to be determined.”

The alleged victim’s mother is said to have dropped him off at the shopping centre, after which he was allegedly stabbed ‘several times’ outside La Porchetta, in front of the school cafeteria during the school holidays.

Police have arrested a 15-year-old boy from Melton West after a teenager was stabbed to death in a busy Melbourne shopping centre

The teenager was reportedly stabbed ‘several times’ outside La Porchetta, in front of the school holiday restaurants

Emergency services performed CPR, but despite their best efforts, the 16-year-old boy died at the scene

The incident occurred days after a local resident warned shoppers of possible “gang problems” at the mall.

“I heard there may be some gang trouble in Woodgrove this weekend,” the woman wrote on Facebook on Saturday.

‘Hopefully that’s not true… Be aware of your surroundings.’

A woman who works in a shop in the centre told Daily Mail Australia she heard a group of youths ‘screaming and screaming’ as the attack took place.

Witness Steve told 3AW the shopping centre was packed with shoppers at the time of the attack.

“There must be 25 police cars and helicopters in the air,” he said.

“The food court where it happened is open and there are people who don’t notice anything.”

The woman said she was shocked that authorities did not close off the square after the incident.

“All they did was close one entrance. That was it.”

The arrested Melton West teenager is understood to have known the alleged victim. No links to youth gangs in the western suburbs have been established

The alleged victim’s mother reportedly dropped him off at the mall before the attack

Victoria Police said ‘the exact circumstances surrounding the teenager’s death are yet to be established’

A police helicopter is on the scene as detectives search for the man with the knife.

The incident occurred after the shopping centre was closed earlier this year after a fight broke out between two groups of youths armed with machetes and a butcher knife.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.