A South Sudanese community leader in Melbourne has begged families to keep their children at home due to fears of gang retribution over a fatal Halloween party shooting.
Pal Bidong, 20, was shot dead in North Melbourne in the early hours of Saturday, sparking ugly scenes where African youths fought in the streets and attacked a news cameraman while police watched on and let the violence unfold.
Former community chairperson of the South Sudanese Community Association of Victoria Kot Monoah addressed the killing on Sunday, saying it was linked to an “east versus west” gang feud.
“We have been reliably and credibly informed that there is potential for a revenge attack overnight or in the next few days,” he wrote in a Facebook post.
“A young person was shot dead last night. This young person if from the eastern suburbs and his colleagues are aggrieved and want to revenge his death tonight or soon.
“We have been informed by leaders in the eastern suburbs to spread this message. Please tell young people to be home overnight and not be moving. Lock your doors and call Triple 000 for safety. If your children’s houses are marked and known, please seek alternative accommodation.”
Nuer Community in Victoria president Pal Deng Pur responded to Mr Monoah’s post by calling the allegations “unfounded”.
“This is a moment for us to show our strength as a community by rejecting negativity and standing firmly against violence. Let us honor the memory of the young boy by coming together and ensuring that our actions reflect compassion and understanding,” he wrote.
The victim’s brother Nyot Bidong said he was a “beacon of light to everyone who knew him”.
But in a drill rap video which has 8,800 views on YouTube Pal Bidong, who called himself Peezy, sang about gang violence, drug taking, being under police surveillance, and having friends in jail for assault.
No arrests have been made over the shooting, with police yet to release a description of the gunman.
Victoria Police said emergency services were called to Langford Street at about 3.15am on Saturday after Bidong was found with a gunshot wound, and pronounced him dead at the scene.
Video recorded by 7 News shows African partygoers attacking each other near the party venue in front of a large number of police officer. One woman was later charged with assault police.
Crime Command Detective Acting Inspector Alan Rumble said on Saturday that “emotions were high” when officers turned up.
“It’s a horrific incident, it’s something that none of us want to experience, police or the local community,” he said.
“Our real goal here today is to … ensure that the family of the victim are supported at this horrible time, ensure the offenders are brought to account and give the local community assurance that Victoria Police take this seriously and we are here to support them.
“We are here to appeal for witnesses, we know that there were a lot of people in the area at the time. We urge those witnesses to reach out and contact police.”
It remains unclear whether the gunman or the victim attended the party at venue The Third Day, and police said Homicide Squad detectives are now investigating.
African gang violence has plagued Melbourne for more than a decade, but “racism” complaints from community leaders and left-wing politicians after a spate of incident in 2018 resulted in Victoria Police no longer releasing offender nationality data and Australia’s corporate press refusing to use the term “African gangs”.
Header image: Left, right: Pal Bidong (GoFundMe, YouTube)
