Teen Faces Manslaughter Charge After Grocery Owner Dies in Sunshine Attack

Van Viet Truong, owner of Hong Hung Asian Grocery in Sunshine, Melbourne, died on Wednesday afternoon from injuries sustained during an alleged attack four days earlier. The 60-year-old was critically injured after rushing to aid a fellow retail worker trying to stop a group of youths allegedly stealing clothes on Saturday. A 15-year-old’s charges have been upgraded to manslaughter. Four other youths remain before the courts.

How the attack unfolded

Van Viet Truong intervened on Saturday afternoon around 2 p.m. when five youths allegedly attempted to steal clothes from a store in Sunshine. He rushed to help a fellow retail worker stop the group. During the altercation, Truong was critically injured and taken to hospital. He died on Wednesday afternoon from those injuries, police confirmed on Thursday.

Charges upgraded following his death

Three boys aged 12, 13, and 15, plus two 14-year-old girls, were initially charged with assault-related offences including affray, violent disorder, and intentionally causing serious injury. Detectives upgraded the 15-year-old’s charges to include manslaughter on Thursday following Truong’s death. Charges against the 13-year-old boy were withdrawn. The four other youths were remanded to appear before a children’s court at a later date.

Community mourns a pillar of the business district

Floral tributes grew outside Hampshire Road on Thursday as mourners paid respects. The store, a mainstay for more than two decades, closed until further notice. Brimbank City Council mayor Virginia Tachos described Truong as a pillar of the community, a generous supporter, and a kind friend. The council flew flags at half-mast on Thursday as a mark of respect and pledged to lobby the state government for increased police numbers.

Local traders demand action on rising crime

Julie Tran, owner of nearby Vietnamese restaurant Thuận An, said Truong was always friendly and welcoming. She and other traders have long called for help addressing rising antisocial behaviour and crime. Tran said authorities should have acted sooner. “They could have made a change. It didn’t have to take a person to die for them actually try to push for this further,” she told AAP.

Final Thoughts

Truong’s death has galvanized the Sunshine business community to demand stronger action from council and state government on crime and antisocial behaviour. The manslaughter charge reflects the severity of the incident and its fatal outcome.

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