An 8-year-old boy who died overnight following an attack on a group in the Hamilton suburb of Bader has been named by his family.
Zahquiel Taipeti was critically injured during the violent incident yesterday evening, which also put two adults in hospital.
“It is with great sadness and heartbreak that we announce the tragic passing of our boy Zahquiel John Thomas Patrick Taipeti,” a spokesperson of the family posted on Facebook.
The post named Zahquiel as the son of Mitikiro Woods and the late Shannon Taipeti. Woods was one of the two adults injured in yesterday’s attack. He remains in stable condition in hospital and was scheduled for surgery this afternoon.
“Rest in the arms of mum,” the post said.
”Rest in eternal love.”
Since the family’s announcement, friends and relatives have posted tributes online in Zahquiel’s honour.
”You didn’t deserve this Zah. Fly home to the arms of your mum,” one online tribute to Zahquiel said.
Another family member wrote: ”Rest in eternal love little cousin. Give mummy big hugs and loves from all of us.”
“Go rock the heavens with your old lady, my boy,” another post said.
The family’s Facebook post said they planned to bring Zahquiel back “home” to Whakatane.
”At this point we are still waiting on what’s happening. We are currently still in Hamilton.”
The Herald understands the assault involved weapons. One neighbour reported seeing a man with blood on his face leave the property on a bike.
Hamilton City field crime manager, Inspector Darrell Harpur, said police have now launched a homicide investigation.
Police were called around 5.20pm on Sunday to reports of a “violent altercation”. Three people were taken to hospital – the boy, with critical injuries, and two other adults who had moderate and serious injuries.
“Sadly, the boy died from his injuries yesterday evening,” police said in a statement today.
A neighbour told NZME she heard shouting coming from the property.
”It was quite aggressive shouting and I saw my neighbours go over and see what it was about.”
She said the street was normally “pretty quiet”.
”A lot of the houses in here are a little community.”
Another resident of the street, who also asked to be anonymous, said he wasn’t surprised to see a police presence at the address.
”People were coming and going all the time down there,” he said.
”Police are always down there. But once the ambulance turned up we knew it was different.”
A long-time resident of the area, who asked not to be named, said, ”All I know is there were three or four police cars here yesterday with an ambulance and a fire engine.”
He said he was aware the Bader neighbourhood had a reputation but had never had any negative experiences himself.
”It’s a pleasant street.”
