- Van Viet Truong, 60, was critically injured after he intervened in a suspected theft at his shop on Hampshire Road, Sunshine, shortly after 2pm last week.
- He was allegedly struck in the head several times and hit his head on the ground, suffering serious head injuries.
- Truong was taken to hospital but died on Wednesday afternoon, police confirmed on Thursday.
- Initially, three boys aged 12, 13, and 15 and two 14-year-old girls were charged with affray, violent disorder, and intentionally causing serious injury.
- Charges against the 13-year-old boy were later withdrawn after further investigations cleared him.
- Following Truong's death, detectives upgraded charges against the 15-year-old boy to include manslaughter.
- The four other youths were remanded to appear before a children's court at a later date.
- Floral tributes outside the Hampshire Road store were growing as mourners paid their respects.
- Traders have long called for help from the council and state government in addressing rising antisocial behaviour and crime.
- Crime in the Brimbank council area is at its highest rate in six years and is almost 9% higher than the Victorian average.
- Victorian Premier Ben Carroll described the alleged attack as completely unacceptable.
Van Viet Truong, 60, died after being assaulted while intervening in a theft at his Sunshine grocery store. Police allege he was struck multiple times by a group of youths, leading to serious head injuries.123
The incident occurred on Saturday when Truong attempted to assist a fellow worker during a robbery. According to Victoria Police, he suffered critical injuries and was hospitalized, but succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday.
A 15-year-old boy has been charged with manslaughter, while three others, aged 12, 13, and 15, along with two 14-year-old girls, face various assault-related charges. Magistrate Robyn Hamilton noted the victim was left in an “unsurvivable situation,” and described the youths' actions as resulting in the “worst possible outcome.”7
The case has sparked outrage, with Victorian Premier Ben Carroll calling the attack “completely unacceptable.” Local traders are urging government action to address rising youth violence and antisocial behavior in the area.12
Floral tributes have been placed outside the Hồng Hương Asian Grocery store, which has served the community for over two decades. A note on the shop’s door indicated it would remain closed due to an “unexpected family emergency.”9
“The 15-year-old's charge was upgraded to manslaughter after Truong's death, while charges against a 13-year-old were withdrawn. The incident has sparked calls from traders for action on youth crime, with Brimbank crime at its highest in six years.”
The Guardian
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