The friends of a slain teenager who bled to death on a suburban nature strip after being stabbed have blamed his tragic death on gang violence.
Reservoir teen Declan Cutler, 16, was chased down by a gang of youths and attacked on Elizabeth Street in Reservoir on Sunday.
It’s believed Mr Cutler was separated from his friends after they were chased by a dark sedan before he was viciously assaulted by a group of men around 2.30am.
Neighbours who overheard yelling attempted to help the teen, but he died on a nature strip.
The teen’s distraught friends Lacey Trafford and Zephyra De Oliveira said their friend died in vain.
“Whoever did this is a horrible person, you take away a young life over something so childish,” Ms Trafford said.
“Declan tried to act all tough on the outside but he was special to me because he was a very thoughtful person, he was soft on the inside and I could see that.”
Parts of Elizabeth St and adjacent streets were closed off on Sunday morning as police and State Emergency Service volunteers scoured the area for evidence.
Two knives were among the items found, though it remains unclear if they were related to the teenager’s death.
Police believe the friends had been at a house party in Coburg when a group arrived looking for Declan and his friends.
As many as eight youths appeared to have attacked Declan, who was unable to outrun the car, punching, kicking and stabbing him.
One perpetrator reportedly returned seconds after the attack to photograph xjmtzywthe dying teen before fleeing the scene.
Friends of the teen have since been threatened and taunted on social media, with one person posting “your next [sic]”.
Mr De Oliveira said Declan had just started hanging out with a group who had a rivalry with a second group.
He said gang-related violence and rivalries was a significant issue in Melbourne.
“It’s horrible,” he said.
“They will listen to UK drill songs that are about stabbing and drugs and it changes people’s mindsets.”
Ms Trafford said younger teens and children as young as 11 were getting caught up in the drama and that it had become a part of daily life.
“No one gets shocked anymore,” she said.
“People don’t die but they end up in hospital, and it’s like a daily thing.”
The friends have launched a Go Fund Me page to help Declan’s family with his funeral expenses, with any leftover money to help the family financially.
The fundraiser has raised just over $3,000 of a $10,000 goal.
Kind words about Declan have flooded social media, with his friends gathering at the spot where he died to pay tribute to their friend.
Ms Trafford described Declan as a thoughtful, helpful person who would do anything for his friends.
“Declan was always trying to put on a tough face but he was very caring. He always helped out his friend, if they ever needed a place to stay,” she said.
“There’s not many people like that, to let people stay at their house.”
No arrests have been made.
