A 15-year-old boy has been charged with murder after a 17-year-old was fatally stabbed in Bruce Purser Reserve in Rouse Hill, Sydney’s northwest, on Monday afternoon.
Police believe the incident may have been a robbery gone wrong, with witnesses reporting that a group of girls attempted to help the injured teen, including one who tried to stem the bleeding from a stab wound to his thigh.
Despite efforts from bystanders and paramedics, the boy died at the scene.
The accused later attended Riverstone Police Station with a parent and was arrested and charged, with investigators saying the incident was not random and that the boys were known to each other. He was refused bail and is due to appear in a children’s court.
The teenager’s death has devastated his family and friends, who have posted emotional tributes online, and has sent shockwaves through the normally quiet community. Residents described the incident as “absolutely awful” and “senseless,” expressing concern for local safety and the impact on young people.
Flowers and tributes were laid at the park on Tuesday as friends gathered at the scene, while NSW Premier Chris Minns and local MP Michelle Rowland offered condolences to the victim’s family. Police praised the young bystanders who tried to assist, calling the situation confronting and tragic.
