The man who died following a stabbing in Auckland on Friday was Beach Haven resident Joshuah Tasi, police have confirmed.
Two teenagers, aged 14 and 17, were arrested in the Far North yesterday and charged with murder after the suspected road-rage attack on Friday night left the 28-year-old dead.
The pair have been remanded in custody and are due to appear in the North Shore Youth Court tomorrow, charged with murder.
It’s believed Tasi was attacked inside his car around 7pm after an altercation between two cars and suffered multiple stab wounds to his neck, chest and leg.
“Police extend our condolences to Joshuah’s family and friends at this extremely difficult time,” a police spokesperson said.
“Joshuah’s family would like to thank all of the people who helped him and provided first aid at the scene.”
Neighbours and emergency services tried to save Tasi, but he died at the scene of the attack on Beach Haven Rd.
Beach Haven residents are gathering to support one another and for karakia (prayer) after the stabbing shook the community.
Today, residents are meeting at Beach Haven House at 6pm for the karakia, which will be led by Apotoro Shannon Leilua.
A bystander told The New Zealand Herald there was “so much blood” after the attack.
He said he saw two young men attacking a third man in a car on Beach Haven Rd in Beach Haven about 7pm on Friday after what sounded like a minor traffic crash.
Police later tracked down a black BMW sedan they believed was involved. The Herald on Sunday photographed the car in the nearby suburb of Glenfield.
The victim’s devastated family yesterday asked for privacy while mourning a man described by one friend on social media as the “loveliest, kindest boy”.
A family member said: “It is an open investigation, so it’s important the police do their thing and we ask that the media allow us to grieve privately.”
The resident who rushed to the victim’s aid said he and others had applied pressure to the man’s wounds.
“I find comfort in hoping that he found comfort that there were people there talking to him ... when he passed,” the resident said. “To be with someone in their last moments like that, that’s quite a connection.”
Photos from the scene on Friday showed damage to the front bumper of the victim’s car.
One resident said he saw that two young men had already left the black car and were allegedly attacking the victim — believed to be in his 30s — in the car behind.
The attack lasted just seconds.
The resident rushed to the victim’s car and was already on the phone to 111 before he reached it, simultaneously screaming for help from nearby neighbours, who were emerging from their homes.
He, his partner and a third woman trained in CPR tried to provide first aid and apply pressure to the wounds.
“But there was just so much blood. I’ve never seen nothing like that before,” he said.
They saw wounds on the victim’s face and neck area, as well as multiple wounds on his leg, but the worst injury was to his chest, the resident said.
“That was our main concern, his chest,” he said. “You just don’t ever expect to see that right in front of your face.”
Another resident said she also heard the commotion and rushed onto the street with her daughter, who helped apply CPR.
But the trauma left her daughter badly shaken.
“She started crying, she broke down.”
Northcote MP Shanan Halbert said locals yesterday displayed tension and concern.
“No doubt families that have been directly involved in this will have children attending local schools or will be known to other community members.”
North Shore councillor Chris Darby says he was left numb after learning about the tragedy.
“This is right in the heart of Beach Haven — a delightful community and little corner of Auckland, which is precious to the people who live there.
“Here we have a young man whose precious life has been violently extinguished. My heart goes out to him, his whānau and all his friends.
“It’s just such a deadly response to a minor car crash; it’s unbelievable.”
