Reporting for 7NEWS Australia, I’m sharing the latest on a shocking and senseless attack that left two young boys dead in Cobblebank. The victims — aged 12 and 15 — were ambushed after a local basketball game and killed in what police believe was carried out by a gang armed with knives and machetes.
Table of Contents
- What happened
- Eyewitness accounts and the scene
- Victims and family response
- Police response and investigation
- Community reaction and broader concerns
- What we know — key facts
- What’s next
- FAQ
- Conclusion
What happened
Shortly after 8pm, three boys were walking home from a basketball game in Cobblebank when a group of people piled out of an SUV and launched a violent attack. Witnesses say the offenders were armed with large knives and machetes, chasing the boys before two of them were fatally injured.
One boy, 15-year-old Dow, was chased into a neighbour’s front yard and died there. The other victim, 12-year-old Chol, died on the street. A third friend managed to escape.
Eyewitness accounts and the scene
Neighbours and relatives described chaotic scenes as they tried to help. One neighbour recalled hearing desperate cries for help: “I heard a child screaming… Someone please help me over and over again.” Others described seeing up to eight people jump into a car and some holding machetes.
“We've come back outside seeing the guy was not moving at all and his hand was completely severed from his arm.”
Victims and family response
Family members have spoken of the boys' personalities, with Dow remembered as a talented basketball player and a kind person. His father’s grief was raw and public: “Dow is my only son… I need answers for my son. My son is just gone like this. He's a basketball player. He's not a criminal.”
The family, who emigrated seeking safety and a better life, said they came “for good life” — a life now shattered by violent knife crime.
Police response and investigation
Victoria Police have publicly stated they believe a gang was responsible and that they are hunting as many as eight offenders. Detectives are still establishing which group and which individuals within that group carried out the attack.
Police have also stressed that the two murdered boys were not part of any youth gang, and investigators are exploring whether the victims were targeted specifically or whether this was a case of mistaken identity.
Community reaction and broader concerns
The killings have reopened community concerns about knife crime, youth violence and public safety. Local residents have expressed shock and anger that teenagers can be killed so brutally in suburban streets after a sporting event.
Leaders in schools, sporting clubs and local government will likely be asked to respond — reinforcing safety measures at youth events, increasing community awareness and supporting traumatised families and witnesses.
What we know — key facts
- Incident location: Cobblebank, Victoria.
- Time: Around 8pm, after a basketball game.
- Victims: Two boys, aged 12 and 15, both deceased.
- Attack: Ambush by people who exited an SUV; offenders reportedly armed with knives and machetes.
- Police: Believe a gang is responsible and are searching for up to eight offenders; investigating motive and whether it was mistaken identity.
What’s next
Major Crime and homicide investigators will continue the search for suspects and piece together evidence from CCTV, witness statements and forensics. Anyone with information, dashcam footage or CCTV images that could help the investigation is urged to contact Victoria Police.
FAQ
Q: Where did the attack occur?
A: In Cobblebank, Victoria, on a suburban street as three boys walked home from a local basketball game.
Q: How old were the victims?
A: One boy was 15 years old and the other was 12 years old.
Q: Do police believe this was gang-related?
A: Police say they believe a gang was responsible and are hunting as many as eight offenders. However, they also say the victims were not part of any youth gang.
Q: Were the victims targeted or was it mistaken identity?
A: Investigators are still trying to determine the motive — whether the boys were specifically targeted or if the attack was a case of mistaken identity.
Q: How can the community help?
A: Anyone with information, CCTV or dashcam footage from the Cobblebank area around 8pm is asked to contact Victoria Police. Community support for the victims' families and school-age children affected by the incident is also crucial.
Conclusion
The deaths of these two boys have left a grieving community and a family demanding answers. This tragic attack — allegedly carried out with knives and machetes — raises urgent questions about youth violence and public safety in suburban areas. As detectives continue their inquiries, the priority remains finding those responsible and supporting the victims’ families and witnesses through this terrible time.
