A 12-year-old Melbourne boy, Chol Achiek, was fatally stabbed on Sept. 6, sparking national outrage over youth violence.

A funeral was held in Sunbury, Melbourne, for 12-year-old Chol Achiek, one of two boys fatally stabbed on September 6 while waiting for a parent after a basketball game. About 200 mourners attended the service at St Mary’s Anglican Church, honoring Chol as a loving brother, passionate basketball player with the Nile Warriors, and a joyful, resilient boy of strong faith. Born in 2013, he was the youngest of seven siblings in an Australian-South Sudanese family and deeply cherished by his community. His death, along with that of 15-year-old Dau Akueng, sparked national concern over youth violence. A 19-year-old, an 18-year-old, and a 16-year-old were charged in connection with the killings. Chol was laid to rest at Maddingley Cemetery, leaving a community mourning a promising life cut short.