Five-Year-Old Girl’s Murder Triggers Violent Unrest as Crowd Attacks First Responders

The tragic death of a five-year-old girl has sparked violent clashes in Australia town of Alice Springs. The child, identified as Kumanjayi Little Baby, went missing after going to bed at an Aboriginal town camp on the night of April 5. Five days later, her body was found in bushland around 3 miles away.

A distant relative of the family, Jefferson Lewis, 47, was identified as a suspect and nabbed after a massive search operation on April 30. However, the residents were not satisfied with the arrest and wanted to punish him under Indigenous Australian customary law, which led to clashes between the public and the police.

Before police could locate Lewis, members of the community found him at another town camp. But instead of reporting him to the authorities, a group of residents beat him up until he lost consciousness.

According to Northern Territory Police Commissioner Martin Dole, the authorities received multiple calls about Lewis being assaulted by a crowd. When emergency services arrived at the scene to rescue and arrest him, the crowd turned on the first responders.

Lewis was eventually taken to the hospital, but around 400 people gathered outside the building. The crowd demanded police hand over the accused to them. The crowd then attacked the police and paramedics. Several first responders sustained minor injuries in the assault.

The angry crowd also torched a police vehicle and damaged several others. Multiple trash cans were also set on fire. In response, officers used tear gas to disperse the mob and safeguard the hospital entrance. Meanwhile, Lewis was discharged and taken into custody. He was flown to a high-security facility in Darwin.

Northern Territory police have warned against violence and asserted that those participating in riots will face the law. “Those people involved, you will face the law just as Jefferson Lewis is facing the law, and your behaviour will not be accepted by us,” Dole said in a statement.

The commissioner also explained how the crowd turned violent outside the hospital. He said, “We conveyed Mr Lewis to the Alice Springs hospital and shortly afterward a large crowd gathered and tried to gain access to that hospital and access to Mr Lewis. Police responded and we called out all the resources that we had available to quell that violence and disturbance.”

As the investigation into the case continues, Kumanjayi Little Baby’s family has expressed disappointment over the violence and urged the community to stay calm. “What has happened this week is not our way,” the victim’s grandfather, Robin Granites, said in a statement.

“Our children are precious, of course, we are feeling angry and hurt at what has happened. This man has been caught, thanks to community action, and we must now let justice take its course while we take the time to mourn Kumanjayi Little Baby and support our family,” Granites added.