Overview
- On Friday night a 47-year-old delivery rider, Jianming Feng, was found with stab wounds on Frederick Way near Queen Victoria Market and died at the scene while a second rider, 34, was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
- Victoria Police arrested a 51-year-old Footscray man who remains in custody for interview and homicide detectives are leading the investigation, with no public charge announced so far.
- Witnesses and nearby CCTV footage reportedly show the confrontation began after a man allegedly kicked over riders’ bicycles, leading the two riders to confront him before the stabbing occurred.
- Hundreds attended vigils outside the State Library and Melbourne Chinatown groups set up a GoFundMe that raised six-figure support quickly; Feng’s family in China are arranging visas and travel while HungryPanda says it is cooperating and assisting the family.
- Victorian Premier Ben Carroll has vowed to work with police, unions and city leaders on changes to protect gig-economy riders, a shift that could trigger safety reviews, roundtables and policy talks about workplace protections and CBD security.