Teen charged with murder after ‘beautiful’ 16-year-old stabbed to death in Melbourne shopping centre

A 15-year-old boy has been charged after a “well-behaved” teenager was allegedly stabbed to death in front of shocked bystanders at a busy Melbourne shopping centre.

Oscar Hamilton, 16, was allegedly stabbed during a brawl at an outdoor restaurant at Woodgrove Shopping Centre in Melton West just before midday on Tuesday.

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

A 15-year-old boy from Melton West was arrested later on Tuesday and spent the night being questioned by detectives.

He has since been charged with murder and will appear in juvenile court at a later date.

Police say the boy and Oscar knew each other, but stress no links have been established to youth gangs in the western suburbs.

“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.”

Police have arrested a 15-year-old boy from Melton West after Oscar Hamilton (pictured), 16, was stabbed to death in a busy Melbourne shopping centre

Oscar, 16, was allegedly stabbed at Woodgrove Shopping Centre, in Melton West, just before midday on Tuesday. Pictured are forensic officers at the scene

Several tributes to Oscar (pictured) were shared online in the hours following his death

Oscar was allegedly stabbed ‘multiple times’ outside La Porchetta, in front of shocked bystanders. Witnesses can be seen in the photo consoling each other

Reportedly, the weapon allegedly used has not yet been recovered by police.

Oscar’s mother reportedly dropped him off at the shopping centre, where he was allegedly stabbed ‘several times’ outside La Porchetta, in front of school lunches during the school holidays.

Police say Oscar’s mother has been assisting detectives, who have now obtained CCTV footage of the alleged murder.

Oscar’s death prompted an outpouring of tributes on social media, most notably from his girlfriend Briannan Hibbert.

She has set up a public Facebook group to commemorate the 16-year-old’s life, remembering Oscar as “a beautiful soul who I was lucky enough to call my boyfriend.”

“It was never meant to end this way, but I guess heaven needed you more than it needed us,” she wrote.

“No one will ever get over this. You filled everyone’s life with so much light and joy. You never failed to put a smile on faces.

‘Life will never be the same without you. My heart will always ache knowing you’re gone.

“I will never forgive whoever did this to you. We are going to get you justice, don’t worry.”

“Everyone was so lucky to have you in their lives. This world was too cruel for your beautiful soul.”

Many heartbroken friends remembered Oscar as a “sweet” and “well-behaved” boy.

“You will be missed Oscar. Words cannot describe how much everyone will miss you. You were too young to die,” one person wrote.

Another friend added: ‘It breaks my heart to know I won’t see you again but I am so grateful for every memory we had and all the moments we shared along the way. You were the best (sic) and funniest friend we could have ever asked for.’

A third wrote: ‘My heart sank when I heard you were gone. My heart cries for your family. You didn’t deserve this at all.’

A fourth posted: ‘Rest in peace and love sweet boy. You were the sweetest soul ever. You had such a beautiful smile and a very infectious laugh. You were such a people pleaser, never liked conflict. No words can describe how much I will miss you. You never deserved what happened to you.’

Police (pictured at the scene) have now charged a 15-year-old boy with the fatal stabbing

Pip Ware, who had met Oscar a few times through her daughter, was devastated for his family.

“It’s tragic, heartbreaking, I can’t even imagine what these children are going through,” she told the Herald Sun.

“It’s something these kids shouldn’t have to deal with. He was a sweet, well-behaved boy.”

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 known to have known Oscar. 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 girl is pictured laying flowers at the scene

A police helicopter was sent to the area as detectives searched 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.