A 14-year-old boy attacked a 22-year-old man with a knife following a heated argument in the lobby of a residential building on Saturday night, the Public Security Police (PSP) announced in a statement yesterday.
Both were injured during the incident in the peninsula’s Lam Mau Tong district. While the teenager has been discharged from hospital following treatment, the man remains under medical care. His condition was described by the statement as stable.
The police have declined to reveal the cause of the dispute.
According to the statement, officers received a report of the stabbing at 10:30 p.m. on Saturday. Including the two injured, the incident involved seven residents.
A preliminary investigation revealed that the 14-year-old, armed with a knife, entered the building’s lobby looking for a woman. Five others, including the 22-year-old victim, were present at the scene.
An argument subsequently broke out between the boy, the victim, and one of the women there. During the altercation, the teenager allegedly attacked the man with the knife.
Both males were taken to the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre. Police seized a 30 cm knife with a 17.5 cm blade at the scene.
The PSP have since transferred the case to the Judiciary Police (PJ) and the Public Prosecutions Office (MP) for further investigation.
The Education and Youth Development Bureau (DSEDJ) told local Chinese-language media yesterday that it was monitoring the case closely. The bureau has instructed counselling organisations to provide support to the boy and his parents.
In a statement, the bureau urged young people to abide by the law and “think twice” before acting on impulse. It also called on parents to remain vigilant regarding their children’s social circles and daily lives.
The bureau underlined its commitment to strengthening Macau’s youth protection network through cross-departmental collaboration, early warning systems, and legal education within school curricula and community activities.
As the age of criminal responsibility in Macau is set at 16, the boy is exempt from criminal charges. He may, however, be subject to non-penal measures, including mandatory counselling.
Since its return to the motherland in December 1999, Macau has seen very few instances of stabbings or other violent crimes.
