A teenager is facing an upgraded manslaughter charge after the death of a beloved grocery store owner allegedly attacked by a group of youths.
Van Viet Truong has been hailed a hero after he was critically injured while rushing to aid a fellow retail worker trying to stop the group allegedly stealing clothes at Sunshine in Melbourne's west on Saturday.
The Hong Hung Asian Grocery store owner was rushed to hospital but died on Wednesday afternoon.
Three boys, aged 12, 13 and 15, and two 14-year-old girls were initially charged with a series of assault-related offences including affray, violent disorder and intentionally causing serious injury.
Detectives upgraded the 15-year-old's charges to include manslaughter on Thursday following Mr Truong's death.
Charges against the 13-year-old boy were earlier withdrawn.
The four other youths were remanded to appear before a children's court at a later date.
Floral tributes outside the Hampshire Road store, which has been a mainstay on the strip for more than two decades, were growing on Thursday as mourners stopped to pay their respects.
A note on the shop's roller door said it would be closed until further notice.
The 60-year-old's death has devastated local traders including Julie Tran, whose Vietnamese restaurant Thuan An is doors down from where the street scuffle unfolded.
Mr Truong was described as a pillar of the community, a generous supporter and a kind friend by Brimbank City Council mayor Virginia Tachos.
The council was flying flags at half-mast on Thursday as a mark of respect and would continue to lobby the state government for a sustained increase in police numbers, Ms Tachos said.
"He was always really friendly to all the businesses," she told AAP.
"When we walked past his store he'd always say 'hi' and smile.
"His wife and his mother-in-law were always there with him. It was the three of them constantly there running the store."
A listing to sell the business was posted online in 2025.
Angered local traders have long called for help from the council and state government in addressing rising anti-social behaviour and crime concerns.
"They could have made a change. It didn't have to take a person to die for them to try to push for this further," Ms Tran said.
A petition launched by members of the Vietnamese community has gathered more than 1700 signatures, with supporters demanding justice.
Since opening her restaurant 18 years ago, Ms Tran said the shopping strip had become a hub for criminal behaviour.
"We're here to make a living. We shouldn't have to be on edge every time we go to work," she said.
Crime in the Brimbank council area is at its highest rate in six years and almost nine per cent higher than the Victorian average, recent Crime Statistics Agency figures show.
Premier Ben Carroll visited the scene on Thursday to lay flowers and pay his respects.
"(He was) a community hero, local grocer for 30 years in Sunshine (and) through a senseless act of violence lost his life," he said.
"We stand with the people in Sunshine and the community today."
There has been an increased police presence in the area since the incident.
"The recent alleged incident in Sunshine has no doubt had a ripple effect through the entire community and has caused angst and concern in Melbourne's west," acting commander Troy Papworth said.
"Police will be there to provide support and ongoing reassurance as long as it’s needed."
Laverton MP Sarah Connolly and Police Minister Paul Edbrooke have met with traders looking at round-the-clock police patrols as a short-term fix.
A community rally calling for safe communities, stronger laws and justice for victims has been organised in Sunshine on Sunday.
