Police are looking for up to 10 people they think were involved in a brawl at Leonard Reserve that left Ghassan Long dead with on the evening of February 23.
Campsie detectives – assisted by the homicide squad – formed Strike Force Poton to investigate Long’s death,and arrested a 17-year-old boy after he left hospital with a hand injury yesterday.
The teen was taken to Campsie police station,where he was charged with affray and hindering the investigation of a serious indictable offence.
He was refused bail to appear at a children’s court today.
Emergency services received multiple calls to the park about 9.50pm on Thursday following reports of a fight,and arrived to find Long suffering multiple stab wounds.
He was treated by paramedics but died at the scene.
Superintendent Sheridan Waldau,Campsie Police Area Commander,told reporters on Friday it was a “highly emotive scene” as family members of the victim arrived to find him dead.
While police are unsure of the exact numbers,Waldau said it’s believed eight to 10 people may have been involved in the incident,with three to four of those thought to have fled the scene.
Superintendent Sheridan Waldau speaking to reporters on Friday morning.Kate Geraghty
“We’ve had witnesses who tell us that there have been a number of males run from the scene along Chapel Road and potentially into Myers Street. We have a blood trail in that area and there’s an extensive crime scene along those two streets.“
Asked if the fight could have been gang-related,Waldau said there is “no evidence to suggest it’s related to any specific crime,but we do not believe it’s a random attack”.
The groups involved are believed to be known to each other,“but in what circumstances they were known to each other we don’t know yet”,she said,adding that it’s too early to know whether the fight was pre-arranged.
The groups involved are believed to be known to each other,“but in what circumstances they were known to each other we don’t know yet”,she said,adding that it’s too early to know whether the fight was pre-arranged.
The victim was “not adversely known to police”,she said.
Waldau said the park is “very much a family-orientated park” and not a local crime spot.
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