A man has been charged with murder after a delivery rider was fatally stabbed while on duty, leaving his family in grief and the community in shock.
On Friday evening, HungryPanda delivery rider Feng Jianming, 47, and another delivery worker confronted a man allegedly tampering with their bicycles in Melbourne’s central business district.
An altercation followed, during which the 51-year-old suspect allegedly stabbed both riders.
Emergency services responded quickly to the incident on Frederick Way, but Feng could not be resuscitated and died at the scene.
The second rider, aged 34, was transported to the hospital with serious injuries and remained in care as of Monday.
The suspect was taken into custody by police on Saturday and subsequently charged on Monday morning with one count of murder and one count of intentionally causing serious injury.
Feng, who originally hails from China’s Shaanxi Province, had been living and working in Australia for approximately nine years.
He is survived by his wife, Xu, their four parents, and two children, all of whom depended on his hard-earned income.
The tragic news of his passing has deeply affected the local Melbourne community and gig economy workers across Australia and internationally.
Over the weekend, floral tributes and heartfelt messages were left near the State Library of Victoria in his memory.
While some notes offered condolences to his family, others expressed deep frustration over safety and discrimination, with messages reading “city of criminal” and “Asian lives matter.”
A GoFundMe campaign initiated by the Melbourne Chinatown Business Association had raised nearly $390,000 by Monday morning to assist the family with emergency travel and funeral costs.
HungryPanda, the delivery platform, stated that it is providing comprehensive support to the family, including visa assistance, funeral arrangements, financial aid, and insurance support.
The 51-year-old accused was remanded in police custody and is scheduled to appear in the Melbourne Magistrates Court.
