Arrest and Initial Violence

Jefferson Lewis, a 47-year-old man, was arrested late on Thursday in connection with the disappearance and presumed death of Kumanjayi Little Baby. Authorities had been searching for him since Sunday. Northern Territory Police Commissioner Martin Dole said Lewis had “presented himself to one of the town camps” on Thursday night. Dole reported that members of the town camp had attempted to inflict vigilante justice on Lewis, leading to a sustained attack in which he was unconscious when police and ambulance officers arrived. One police officer required stitches after being assaulted by the crowd.

Escalation and Property Damage

Following Lewis’s arrest, a crowd of about 400 people gathered outside the hospital, leading to further violence. A police car was set alight, four other police cars and four of the region’s five ambulances were damaged. Bins and bushes were set on fire, and nearby businesses were trashed. One woman was arrested for allegedly trying to set a police car alight. Police used “less-than-lethal munitions and chemical munitions” to quell the violence.

Community Reactions and Calls for Peace

Kumanjayi Little Baby’s grandfather, Robin Granites, called for calm and urged the community to reflect on their actions. In a statement, he said, “What has happened this week is not our way.” Granites emphasized the importance of peace and noted that “our children are precious, of course we are feeling angry and hurt at what has happened.” Police Commissioner Martin Dole reiterated that the violence could not be excused and warned that those involved would face legal consequences. He also stated that Lewis’s injuries were not significant enough to keep him in hospital and that he had been flown from Alice Springs to Darwin and taken into police custody. Charges are expected to be laid against Lewis in the coming days, with police confident that someone in the community had helped him and vowed to pursue those responsible.