Teenager killed in tragic joyride bragged of Apex gang links
The 17-year-old passenger who was killed when their stolen car flipped on Saturday evening boasted of his links to the notorious Apex gang.
Dru Peterson was one of six teens travelling in a stolen car in Melbourne when their joyride came to a sudden end, killing him and leaving another fighting for his life in intensive care.
Mr Peterson was airlifted to the Royal Melbourne hospital but died on Sunday morning.
The stolen Kia ran two red lights and narrowly missed a car before hitting another vehicle and flipping onto its roof in Narre Warren South at 7.30pm.
Victoria Police said the six teens in the car may have earlier robbed a bottle shop and could be linked to the notorious Apex youth crime gang responsible for a spate of home invasions and car thefts across Melbourne.
"We'd be really keen to hear from anyone who has a relative who didn't come home last night," Detective Inspector John Cormack told reporters on Sunday.
A 15-year-old boy was allegedly behind the wheel of the car when it spiraled out of control and has now been charged with his friend’s death.
Friends and family of the boys begged them to realise the danger of their erratic behaviour.
“Y’all need to take more care in your lives, how many accidents must there be for people to wake up and start realising it isn’t worth it,” Acohl Mabing wrote in a tribute to the young men.
"S***ts so surreal bro, the fact that someone can be by your side one minute and in this position the next,” he added.
“Very silly But (sic) my love goes out to his family,” Georgia Howard said.
As the Peterson family prepare for a heartbreaking funeral, the family of Shok Mou remain by his bedside as a series of tubes keep him alive at the Alfred Hospital.
“Of all the crazy things you’ve done and said. Shok, I really hope you get away with this one. Fight through it big boy. Keeping you in my prayers,” another friend said.
Earlier this year refugee parents of out-of-control youths started sending their troublemaking kids back to war-torn countries to “straighten them out”, fearing their children will spiral deeper into a life of crime if they stay here.
The Apex gang is known for its public disturbance, stealing luxury cars and carrying out violent armed robberies and home invasions, acting out scenes reminiscent of violent video games like Grand Theft Auto, police said.
Apex gang members are predominately of African or Sudanese ethnicities, and mostly in their early 20s, but children as young as 13 have recently been arrested in connection with violent home invasions and carjackings.
