Morwell Stabbing – Law enforcement agencies in Victoria launched a manhunt in Morwell on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, following a stabbing that sent a man to the hospital with serious injuries.
The attack occurred around midday on Commercial Road, a bustling thoroughfare in the heart of Morwell, Gippsland, in South-Eastern Victoria.
The victim, whose identity and condition remain undisclosed, was swiftly transported for emergency treatment as the suspect fled on foot, evading immediate capture.
Latrobe Crime Investigation Unit detectives have cordoned off the area, combing for evidence as they work to identify and apprehend the attacker in this latest violent episode to jolt the town.
The incident unfolded in broad daylight, heightening alarm in Morwell, a community of roughly 14,000 residents known for its coal mining heritage and rose gardens. Witnesses reported chaos as emergency services descended on Commercial Road, a key business strip near the Latrobe Valley Law Courts and council headquarters.
The suspect’s escape on foot has complicated the search, with police urging anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage to contact them at 5131 5000 or Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000. The investigation remains in its early stages, with no motive yet established, leaving locals on edge as authorities scour the surrounding streets and railway precinct.
This stabbing marks another chapter in a troubling string of violent incidents in Morwell over the past year. In March 2024, a physical altercation on Church Street saw two men, aged 25 and 18, stabbed during a confrontation with a group, leading to the arrest of a 15-year-old from nearby Traralgon on charges including assault with a weapon.
More recently, in January 2025, the town mourned the loss of 91-year-old Harry Wright, found dead in his Maryvale Road home under suspicious circumstances tied to a robbery. A 42-year-old man was charged with aggravated burglary in that case, underscoring a pattern of unrest that has unsettled this Gippsland hub.
Morwell’s history of violence, including a 2018 double stabbing on McDonald Street that left two women critically injured, adds context to Wednesday’s attack. That earlier incident involved a 54-year-old man charged with attempted murder after a domestic dispute spiraled out of control, highlighting the town’s intermittent struggles with interpersonal conflict.
Located 152 kilometers east of Melbourne, Morwell serves as a central hub in the Latrobe Valley, yet its quiet streets have repeatedly been disrupted by such acts, fueling community calls for stronger safety measures and police presence.
As the manhunt intensifies, the stabbing on Commercial Road reverberates beyond Morwell, spotlighting broader concerns about crime in regional Victoria. The Burke County Sheriff’s Office, assisting local police, has yet to release suspect descriptions, but the urgency of the search reflects the gravity of the situation.
For a town still healing from past tragedies—like the loss of beloved bowls club member Harry Wright—the latest violence renews a collective push for answers and justice. Residents are left waiting as investigators piece together this midday nightmare, hoping to restore calm to a community too familiar with such shadows.
Local authorities are advising locals to be vigilant and report any information about these events to Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersvic.com.au.