A young man who was meant to be celebrating his 21st birthday has been identified as one of the victims in the 100 person brawl in Gisborne that ended with two men dead and three taken to hospital with critical stab wounds.
Friends and family members of Chrysler Stevens-Mark paid tribute to the 21-year-old who was killed in the gathering that got out of hand on Lytton Rd on Saturday night.
In a Facebook post, a family member said “It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of our Boy, our Little Cuzzy, our Little brother … who was tragically taken from us in what was supposed to be his special night!”
“My aunty, my uncs and our little cousins we love yous so much, we will be here every step!”
Police forensics are still on the scene at Lytton Rd and cordons remain in place as investigations continue into the massive disorder event after a 21st birthday party on Saturday night.
A resident who lived near the address of the party, who spoke to NZME on the condition of anonymity, said she heard screaming about 11.30pm and stepped outside to see what was going on.
“I just heard all the screaming. Women screaming. I came out and saw everybody on the road and they were just all in one pack. It was hard to identify who was who in the dark.”
She wasn’t sure about numbers of people involved, but said it was a lot of people.
Gisborne Councillor Colin Alder told Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking Breakfast he has it on reasonably good authority gangs are involved, but “they are not at war, as such”.
“It was an unfortunate event at a party where alcohol and possible drugs were involved… who takes a knife to a party?”
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