Third teenager charged after Craigieburn hospital death
A third teenager has been charged with murder after 15-year-old Darweish Mohamed was found with stab wounds outside Craigieburn Community Hospital in Melbourne’s outer north.
Victoria Police said a 14-year-old boy from the Hume area was arrested on Friday evening and charged over the fatal incident. He is expected to face a children’s court, joining two other teenage boys who were charged earlier in the investigation.
Darweish, from Mickleham, was found critically injured in the car park area of the hospital on Lygon Drive about 7.50pm on Wednesday. A hospital staff member provided CPR, but he died at the scene.
The case has drawn strong attention across Melbourne’s north, where family, friends and community members have gathered to mourn the teenager and leave tributes near the place where he was found.
Police investigation widens
The latest charge follows the arrests of a 16-year-old boy from the Goulburn Valley and a 15-year-old boy from the Craigieburn area, both of whom have also been charged with murder. Police have said the accused teenagers remain before the courts, where the allegations will be tested.
A 20-year-old Beveridge man has separately been charged with criminal damage by fire after investigators linked a burnt-out car found at Oaklands Junction to the broader inquiry. A 15-year-old girl from the Fawkner area has also been charged with affray and theft of a motor vehicle.
Detectives have not publicly alleged that every person charged played the same role. The separate charges indicate a wider investigation into the events before and after Darweish was found outside the hospital. Police have appealed for anyone with information, CCTV, dashcam footage or mobile phone video that may assist investigators to contact Crime Stoppers.
Because several of the accused are children, reporting on court proceedings is restricted and the matters are expected to move through the children’s court system. The murder charges remain allegations unless and until proven in court.
Community mourns Darweish Mohamed
Darweish’s family and friends remembered him at a memorial service on Saturday, with mourners attending a mosque in Preston before he was laid to rest. Tributes have also continued to grow outside Craigieburn Community Hospital, reflecting the shock felt by those who knew him and by the wider local community.
A fundraising page set up to support funeral expenses and the family had drawn tens of thousands of dollars in donations by the weekend. Messages shared by supporters described the loss as devastating and asked community members to keep Darweish and his relatives in their prayers.
The Victorian education department has acknowledged the distress caused by the death of a young person in a violent incident and said support would be available to affected school communities. Local leaders and residents have also raised concerns about youth violence, while police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fatal stabbing.
The killing of a teenager outside a medical facility has intensified public concern, but authorities have urged the public to allow the investigation and court process to proceed. For Darweish’s family, the immediate focus remains grief, funeral arrangements and the loss of a 15-year-old whose life ended in circumstances now before the courts.
What happens next
The accused teenagers are expected to appear before children’s court proceedings, while related charges involving the adult accused and the teenage girl will progress separately. Investigators are continuing to examine the movements of those involved, the alleged use of vehicles, and any footage from the area around Craigieburn Community Hospital and nearby suburbs.
Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online.