The Northern Territory's police chief has strongly condemned rioters after a night of violence in Alice Springs, following the murder of a five-year-old girl, as her family appeals for calm.
Alice Springs saw flames and chaos after vigilantes located suspected killer Jefferson Lewis at Charles Creek town camp, where he was beaten unconscious before police arrived. Lewis is accused of abducting and murdering the five-year-old girl, known culturally as Kumanjayi Little Baby, who disappeared on Anzac Day.
Commissioner Martin Dole reported that paramedics attempting to revive Lewis after he was found by the mob also came under attack and required police rescue. He noted that police resources were already stretched during the manhunt for Lewis and the girl before her body was discovered 5 km south of Alice Springs on Thursday.
“Now to divert those resources to having to investigate senseless violence against emergency services is just something that isn't required,” he said.
Lewis, 47, was taken to Alice Springs hospital for treatment of a head wound, after which an angry mob descended on the medical facility. Police used tear gas, pepper spray, and rubber bullets against the crowd, which also set a police vehicle on fire.
Commissioner Dole said several police officers were injured, along with a Northern Territory Fire and Rescue officer who suffered a significant facial injury requiring treatment. Several ambulance officers were also attacked and sustained soft tissue injuries.
One woman was arrested and is being investigated for attempted arson, with more arrests expected on Friday. Northern Territory Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro announced that alcohol sales in the city would be paused today in an attempt to quell the violence.
The family of Kumanjayi Little Baby released a statement through elder Robin Granites, the child's grandfather, pleading with the Indigenous community to allow justice to take its course. “Everyone is feeling upset and emotions are high,” he said. “I understand that what happened this week is not our way. Our children are precious. Of course we are feeling angry and hurt. This man has been caught thanks to community action, and we must allow justice to take its course.”
Lewis was flown from Alice Springs to Darwin early Friday morning to calm unrest. He has been released from hospital into police custody and is expected to face charges imminently.
Commissioner Dole slammed the mob behaviour, describing the violence outside the hospital as unacceptable. “Let me say that the behaviour that we saw last night cannot be explained away, excused or accepted. Absolutely no excuse for violence against emergency services that are just doing their job,” he said. “So for those people involved, you will face the law, just as Jefferson Lewis is facing the law, and your behaviour will not be accepted by us. I just call for calm across the community.”
Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro also criticised the rioters, emphasising that attacks on frontline workers are never acceptable. “We saw behaviour last night that required enormous police response and resources, and as a result of that behaviour, we saw police fires and ambulances attacked,” she said. “Whilst we appreciate and understand that people are very angry and grieving, there is never an excuse or an acceptability of violence as a response.”
Lewis is suspected of taking Kumanjayi Little Baby from a house at Old Timers Camp, 6 km south of Alice Springs, where he was staying five days ago. Authorities had been searching for him until he was found on Thursday night.
A local told Daily Mail that a group of vigilantes beat Lewis after spotting him at Charles Creek Camp. “A group of young boys saw him walking down the street and they noticed him as the man on the news,” the local said. “They ran up to him and started beating him viciously. He was trying to get under a shipping container; he might have been sleeping there or just trying to get away from the mob. He has been beaten badly and is in a bad way. But this won't be enough, people want tribal punishment and want to keep going.”
Police intervened and arrested Lewis before rushing him to Alice Springs Hospital, where he arrived before 10 pm local time. More than 400 people then gathered outside the hospital, throwing rocks at the windows as the furious crowd screamed for Lewis to be brought outside. They dispersed only after police deployed tear gas, but dozens remained on the street behind the hospital.
Commissioner Dole said that four out of five ambulances in Alice Springs were damaged, making them inoperable, and one police vehicle was burnt to the ground. The arrest came hours after police discovered Kumanjayi Little Baby's remains and confirmed Lewis's DNA was found on her clothing.
Lewis had been sentenced to 64 months in prison between 2016 and 2025 for offences including aggravated assaults, breaching domestic violence orders, bail, and resisting police. He was known to the victim's family.
The girl's mother, Jacinta White, shared a tribute: “I know you are in heaven with the rest of the family. Me and your brother will meet you one day. We are giving our lives to Jesus. It's going to be so hard to live the rest of our lives without you.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also paid tribute to Kumanjayi Little Baby, who was “just at the start of life's adventure”. He said, “This is the tragic outcome we were all desperately hoping against. No words can measure up to the immensity of the grief her family is going through. In their time of terrible loss, all Australians hold them in our hearts.”
