Community mourns delivery rider killed in Melbourne
A vigil and a rally have been held in Melbourne’s CBD following the death of Jianming Feng, who was allegedly stabbed to death while delivering food on Friday night.
Feng was one of two delivery riders who were allegedly attacked after seeing a man tampering with their bikes in Melbourne’s city centre on Friday night, police said.
The two men confronted a 51-year-old and an altercation occurred, with both allegedly stabbed and emergency services called.
Feng, 47, died at the scene, with his identity confirmed by several media outlets and a GoFundMe page set up to support his family.
His 34-year-old colleague was taken to hospital for treatment to his injuries.
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The 51-year-old man involved in the altercation was arrested and was due to be interviewed on Saturday.
Hundreds of members of Melbourne’s Chinese community attended a vigil at the State Library Victoria on Saturday and a rally raised concerns about public safety.
‘Brother Feng’
Feng, affectionately known to friends and colleagues as Brother Feng, has been remembered as a hardworking father, loving husband and a familiar face in Melbourne’s Chinatown, according to a GoFundMe set up by the Melbourne Chinatown Business Association.
“What should have been another ordinary Friday evening at work ended in an unimaginable tragedy,” the page said.
Feng is originally from Shaanxi Province, China, and came to Australia in 2017 to work and support his family back home.
“His colleagues told us he rarely spent money on himself. Almost everything he earned went towards supporting his loved ones back in China. Even his shoes were among the cheapest he could find,” the page said.
“His colleagues remember him as incredibly diligent, generous and kind-hearted.”
The fundraiser has already raised more than $156,000 to help his wife and children with emergency travel and accommodation, as well as funeral expenses.
Feng’s wife said he was the main breadwinner in their family and was supporting elderly parents and young children.
“His life can’t just be taken away like this, as though it meant nothing,” she told told 7News.com.au.
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