
A shocking incident unfolded on the rooftop of a suburban shopping complex, as three adolescents were apprehended on suspicion of stabbing a man.
The middle-aged victim, aged 50, is reported to have climbed to the rooftop of the Launceston Plaza Shopping Centre on Racecourse Crescent to confront a group of teenagers. The scene that played out at around 8:40pm on Wednesday evening left him critically wounded and in dire straits.
Inspector Andrew Hanson from Tasmania police gave an account of the incident, stating there had been an altercation on the rooftop once the man managed to reach the teens. In the ensuing conflict, the man was stabbed multiple times.
In Inspector Hanson’s account, he stated, “The wounds inflicted were substantial, causing a considerable amount of blood loss. The scene that unfolded was considerably shocking.” Swiftly responding to the emergency, police officers arrived on the scene within minutes, offering critical first-aid treatment that potentially saved the man’s life. Following the harrowing ordeal, he was swiftly transported to Launceston General Hospital, arriving in a severe yet stable condition.
The aftermath of the incident painted a frightful picture. The vicinity, especially surrounding an outdoor toilet block, was splattered with blood everywhere, as reported by the local Mercury newspaper.
Two of the adolescent suspects, aged 15 and 16, were apprehended by early Thursday morning. A second 16-year-old suspect was taken into custody later that day, just before noon. At the time this report is written, no formal charges have been pressed.
A spokesperson for Tasmania police revealed they are currently pursuing a particular line of inquiry related to a fourth juvenile. With the investigation still ongoing, residents with valuable information relating to the incident are being implored to step forward and reach out to their local police department on 131 444, or to file a report through Crime Stoppers.