A shattered family have pleaded for answers after an aspiring model was repeatedly beaten and stabbed to death by two unknown attackers.
Nathan Mwanza, 23, was killed moments after getting off a bus in Wyndham Vale in Melbourne’s south-west at about 8pm Wednesday.
He was heading home when he became embroiled in an altercation with two passengers on the bus.
Police believe the two unknown assailants ambushed him metres away from the Haines Drive bus stop, where they got off.
CCTV showed two men allegedly punching and kicking Mr Mwanza as he lay lifeless on the nature strip near the bus stop.
One of the men then allegedly stabbed him as the bus drove off, The Herald Sun reported.
Police and and forensic officers returned to the scene on Thursday to try and piece together what happened.
Mr Mwanza’s distraught family also visited the scene, where they were seen breaking down and consoling each other.
Nathan Mwanza, 23, was beaten and stabbed to death at a bus stop on Wednesday night
Two men who allegedly beat, kicked and stabbed Mr Mwanza at a bus stop remain on the run. Pictured is the crime scene
They have been left wondering what could have prompted the seemingly random attack.
Mr Mwanza has been remembered as a gentle giant.
‘He never had a problem with anybody, why did they kill my son? For what? Stop killing people for nothing,’ his father Samuel said.
‘This can happen to anyone. This wasn’t at midnight or 3am, it was almost broad daylight, it’s unbelievable.’
Sister Naomi added: ‘He wasn’t a troublemaker. He would never, ever hurt a fly’
‘He doesn’t like problems. He doesn’t have any issues with anyone.’
The latest incident comes a month after Lino Atem, 24, was stabbed to death 500 metres up the road.
The second eldest of six children, Mr Mwanza’s family moved to Australia from the Democratic Republic of the Congo in search of a safer life 10 years ago.
Mr Mwanza’s distraught family visited the crime scene on Thursday
He had plans to move to the UK before his life was tragically cut short.
Mr Mwanza had also established a promising modelling career representing labels such as Nike, Champion, and Hype DC.
‘We left our countries to come here because this is a safe place and not to have to deal with this kind of thing, you know,’ his uncle Tresor Mugunyi told Nine News.
‘Whatever has to be done, this has to stop… there has to be some sort of accountability.’
It’s unknown whether Mr Mwanza knew his alleged attackers.
But police have confirmed the he was not known to police prior to his death.
‘Our victim was not known to police, he was on the bus minding his own business,’ Detective Inspector Dean Thomas said.
Mr Mwanza’s alleged attackers remain on the run.
They were last seen walking along Vaughan Street before they disappeared down a side street.
Aspiring model Nathan Mwanza (right) has been remembered as a gentle giant
The men are described as Asian appearance and aged in their late teens or early 20s.
One was wearing a white T-shirt, dark jeans, runners and a cap while the other was wearing a dark jacket and a cap.
Homicide detectives are gathering statements from other passengers and are reviewing CCTV from the bus.
Police urge witnesses or anyone with dashcam or CCTV to contact Crime Stoppers.
