A young man found dead with stab wounds in a Melbourne park has been identified as a talented basketball player.
Kioyom Athum, 28, was discovered in Balmoral Park in Derrimut, about 22 kilometres west of the CBD, in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Paramedics attempted to revive him, but he died at the scene at around 4.30am.
Mr Athum played as a forward for Goldbackz in the semi-professional Melbourne Basketball League.
On Saturday, two visibly distraught women visited the crime scene and repeatedly shouted “let me see it one more time.” Herald of the Sun information.
Police were seen comforting the couple but led them away from the tent covering the 28-year-old man’s body.
Victoria Police Detective Inspector Dean Thomas said Mr Athum was last seen by his sister at around 9pm in the Derrimut area.
It is believed that he was in the company of four other men.
Basketball player Kioyom Athum, 28, has been identified as the man found dead in Balmoral Park in Melbourne’s west in the early hours of Saturday.
Inspector Thomas said homicide detectives were still trying to piece together Mr Athum’s movements between 9pm and 4.20am.
The talented basketball player was not known to have gang ties.
On Saturday, sections of Balmoral Park were cordoned off with police tape while a tent shielded Athum’s body from public view.
Investigators said they found “several knives” in the park.
Inspector Thomas said the knives would need to be forensically examined to determine if they had any connection to the alleged stabbing.
Police were also trying to identify whether a group of men who called them to the scene were associated with Mr Athum.
“We are trying to find out what connection they have with the deceased. We believe there may have been other people present in the park at the time who could have escaped,” said Inspector Thomas.
Police were seen combing the area around the stabbing and one officer said several knives had been found in the vicinity.
An SES tent was erected at Balmoral Park to shield Mr Athum’s body from public view.
Detectives were seen knocking on doors on Lennon Parkway on Saturday morning.
Inspector Thomas urged anyone with information to come forward.
“We are appealing to anyone who was in the area at the time, driving, walking nearby etc, who may have seen anything suspicious,” he said.
“We have spoken to local police and they are sending more patrols to the area, so residents should expect to see more police in the area in the coming days.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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