Fitzroy community in mourning after 16-year-old shooting victim identified

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A Melbourne teenager shot dead on a Fitzroy backstreet in the early hours of Saturday morning has been remembered as someone “deeply loved” and “cherished” by those who knew him, as police continue their hunt for the culprits.

Sixteen-year-old Ater Good died on King William Street just after midnight on January 3, between the public housing tower he called home and the school he attended as a young child, Sacred Heart Primary.

Ater Good was the eldest child in his family and a capable basketballer.

On a crowdfunding page set up to help finance funeral expenses, Ater’s father, Phillip Good, said his son “was deeply loved by his family, cherished by his friends, and held a special place in the hearts of everyone who knew him”.

“As the eldest son, he carried great meaning within our family and leaves behind many siblings who will forever feel his absence. His passing has left our hearts broken and our family grieving a loss that words cannot fully express.”

The scene of Good’s death has become an impromptu memorial to his life in the day’s since.

Members of Good’s family, as well as his former primary school principal were among those who paid their respects and laid flowers outside the housing tower on Monday afternoon.

Soft drink cans and candles were scattered among the flower bouquets, with the tribute erected roughly where the shooting occurred, in the shadow of Fitzroy Police Station, Sacred Heart Primary and the Fitzroy Town Hall.

Among those mourning the teen’s passing is the Collingwood Basketball Association, with Ater’s death marking the second time in four months the group has had to process the violent death of a young player.

In September, 15-year-old Dau Akueng, who played in the CBA’s All-Stars team, was one of two boys killed in Melbourne’s west after being ambushed by eight masked assailants. A 16-year-old boy remains before the courts in relation to that matter.

Good was remembered as a sweet boy by mourners on Monday.

CBA’s former head of coaching at Gani Sakiri remembered Ater, who was also known as Elia, saying the child he had coached in an under-14s team had been a talented basketballer.

“He showed potential as an athlete, but he later moved away from playing the game,” Sakiri said.

“I’ve known most of these kids for quite some time … It’s a sad situation, very unfortunate.”

Sakiri said when he was coaching Ater, he “would pick him and a few other boys up” from their houses and after games would “buy them something from Maccas”.

People in the broader community have also been laying tributes, with the Sudanese community Good was from in their thoughts.

Victoria Police said on Saturday that the shooting appeared to be targeted, and released CCTV footage that showed two young people walking near the Fitzroy Police Station before shots were fired.

An officer inside the station heard shots and went outside to see what was going on. Despite the officer’s attempts to render first aid, Ater died at the scene.

The investigation remains ongoing.