A man from the Gold Coast in Australia has been arrested and charged with murder following an alleged stabbing incident at a local tavern. The incident occurred in the smoking area of RQ’s Tavern in Robina, where a man and a woman, both in their late twenties, had been present for less than two minutes before the alleged stabbing took place. The victim, identified as 26-year-old Dylan McPadden, was reportedly stabbed in the chest.
According to Detective Inspector Mark Proctor, the altercation began almost immediately after the accused entered the tavern. Emergency services were called to the scene around 10:15 pm, and McPadden was rushed to Gold Coast University Hospital. Unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead around 11 pm.
The suspect, a 26-year-old man with no permanent residence, allegedly fled the scene before police arrived. Following an investigation, authorities located the man at a residence in Mermaid Beach, where he was arrested around 2 am.
The motive behind the altercation remains unclear, and authorities are unsure whether the two men knew each other prior to the incident. McPadden, a regular patron of the tavern, suffered a stab wound approximately an inch wide.
Nick Casey, an employee at a neighboring business, reported that the area had been quiet before the incident. He expressed shock and disbelief at the violent event, noting that it was out of character for the typically peaceful neighborhood.
McPadden’s friends have been left devastated by his sudden death, describing him as a “happy-go-lucky” individual who enjoyed life to the fullest. The tavern reopened the following day, where friends gathered to honor McPadden’s memory.
The accused is due to appear in Southport Magistrates Court. Meanwhile, authorities are urging any witnesses to come forward to assist with the ongoing investigation.