A teenager has been arrested following the fatal stabbing of a supermarket worker in the Northern Territory. The incident occurred in Nightcliff when the 18-year-old reportedly attempted to steal items from a supermarket on Progress Drive at approximately 5:15 PM. The 71-year-old store owner confronted the suspect, urging him to return the stolen goods. In response, the teenager allegedly used an edged weapon to stab the man before fleeing the scene on a bicycle.
Witnesses in the store attempted to provide first aid until paramedics arrived, but unfortunately, the store owner succumbed to his injuries at the scene. The teen subsequently surrendered himself to police at Palmerston Police Station around 12:35 AM.
Although he remains in custody, the young man has not yet been formally charged. Northern Territory Assistant Police Commissioner Travis Wurst praised the community’s efforts that led to his apprehension, stating that police were able to quickly identify CCTV footage of the incident. This prompted a swift response from police teams to locate the suspect, who, Wurst noted, had only turned 18 three days prior. At the time of the incident, the teenager was on bail with specific conditions, although he was not required to wear an electronic monitoring device.