“We just want our son back:” Parents forgive slain son’s killers
The grief stricken parents of a teenage boy stabbed to death outside of a suburban shopping centre vow they will forgive their son’s attackers.
Solomone Taufeulungaki, 15, was approached by a group of eight to 10 males on Tuesday afternoon outside Brimbank Shopping Centre at Deer Park in Melbourne's west.
Nine News reports some of the group members came bearing knives and baseball bats, which they used on the teenage boy “multiple times” in the chest and stomach.
Solomone died at the scene, and his friend say he was an "innocent boy" who may not have been the target of the fatal attack.
The vicious attack occurred outside of his family's church - the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Solomone's grieving mother, father and aunt visited the scene on Wednesday morning clutching a bunch of yellow and blue flowers.
His father 'Atunaisa was seen collapsing to the ground as he approached the scene with Solomone's mother Salome and aunt Siu Alone.
"Fly high, son. Love you," his mother said.
"He's humble, he's active, he's funny. We don't want any justice. We want our son back home.
"We did not have a chance to see him last night so we wanted to come here."
Solomone’s parents say they have already vowed to forgive their son’s attackers after gathering with family to pray.
"Everyone dies in a different situation," 'Atunaisa said.
“Heavenly father needed my son to come back.
"We don't know who is their [the attackers'] family but we love them ... the parents don't teach bad things to the children. It's their children's choice."
Nine people are in custody after the fatal stabbing and a second brawl occurred at the scene just hours later.
Nine people spent the night in custody after the fatal stabbing and a second brawl that broke out at the scene hours later.
Solomone's friend, 16-year-old Veni Atonio, told reporters he didn’t understand why his friend had to die.
"I don't know why they had to take an innocent boy," he said.
"I don’t know why this generation is all about ... shivs, killing each other, when they don’t know how the parents will feel. It’s not a parents' job to bury their own children."
Veni went on to remember his mate by saying: "With that kind of smile that man has, it’s unforgettable. We are just going to miss him so much.
"It was a stupid act. They should have done something else instead of ... knives and bats."
Veni said he believes the attackers might have been trying to get to someone else, because of something written on social media.