Ruka Carlson dad of six A fight on Chapel Street in Melbourne early on Easter Sunday, 2025, led to the brutal stabbing death. The tragedy made people very angry, led to several murder charges, and showed that people are becoming more worried about violence in Prahran’s nightlife. The police are still looking into the case, and there are still a number of suspects in custody.
The Night Chapel Street Went Crazy
It was Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025, and Chapel Street in Melbourne was full of partygoers when a fight broke out near the Love Machine nightclub.
The fight started outside a bar, moved down the strip a few blocks, and ended near Chatham Street, which is one of Melbourne’s busiest nightlife spots.
Ruka Carlson, a 30-year-old father of six from Mickleham, was in the crowd. Within minutes, he was chased, punched, kicked, and stabbed several times before falling to the ground as partygoers screamed and cars crawled by.
Abz Al, who was with friends, told what happened when he saw the hurt man:
- “We tried to help because he was bleeding all over.” We took off his shirt and pressed on the wounds.
Emergency workers got there in a few minutes and worked hard to keep him alive. Paramedics took care of him at the scene, but he died on the way to the hospital from what police later called “a number of wounds inflicted by a sharp instrument.”
Detective Acting Inspector Chris Ellway said:
- “A bottle was used in the attack, but we’re not sure if it was the cause of the injuries.” When people go out with friends and family for a good time, they don’t want to see violence.
Who was Ruka Carlson?
There was more to Ruka Carlson than what was in the news. The father, who had a lot of tattoos, was a loving partner and proud Māori man. People remember him for his warmth and sense of humor.
He and his fiancée Monique had six kids together, all of whom were between nine and one year old. They were going to get married later this year.
People who loved him still think about his last text to her:
- “Okay, I’m just eating now, but I’ll be home soon, baby. I love you.”
Monique said he was “the most beautiful soul on earth—a loving, caring, gentle father.”
He was the only one in the family who made money. His friends said he was “feared but respected—tough on the outside, kind on the inside.”
The Chapel Street Scene
Later, the police said that the fight involved up to six men, most of whom were thought to know each other.
Officers blocked off a big crime scene that ran from Love Machine to Electric Bar. They had a hard time getting through the Easter crowds and moving cars.
- Ellway said, “The police had trouble keeping control of what is a pretty big scene on a busy street.”
Forensic investigators took pictures of blood stains on the asphalt and picked up a broken glass bottle that they thought was a weapon.
They also found a gun in a brown paper bag and tested it to see if it was real or fake.
Two cars were towed from Little Chapel Street and Carlton Street: a white Mitsubishi with a broken mirror and a white Mercedes sedan.
Detectives looked for fingerprints on surfaces and got CCTV footage from shops and venues nearby.
A Violent History on the Strip
The tragedy brought back memories of Melbourne’s violent past. Jacob Elliott, the son of crime figure Nabil Maghnie, shot someone in a drive-by shooting at Love Machine in 2019. He was later given a life sentence.
This most recent murder brought back up the discussion about violence in nightlife and the need for more police in Prahran.
Police also said they knew Carlson and that he had a case pending in the Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court, but they couldn’t find any clear links to organized crime.
But because of the victim’s social circle, investigators did look into possible connections to outlaw motorcycle gangs.
Cemre Volkan’s vow of revenge that came from the heart
Cemre Volkan, a close friend who used to be with socialite Brynne Edelsten, called Carlson a “true hero vigilante.”
He wrote on social media:
- “Judging such a handsome man by how he looked! His soul was the most gentle. He was a hero who did things that were usually against the law but not allowed by the police or the government.
- Volkan said that Carlson “bashed rapists, child molesters, and people who stole from innocent people.”
He went on, “My brother died in my fkn arms, bleeding out and worried about his family.”
Later, he made a scary promise: “The dogs will pay.”
Some people in Melbourne praised his loyalty, while others warned against vigilante calls for revenge.
Footage that went viral and shocked the public
Days later, a video of the attack went viral online, showing a group of men attacking Carlson at the intersection.
The disturbing video made people even angrier, and police asked people to stop sharing it and instead give it to detectives.
Ellway said to the press:
- “The public should be just as shocked as we are to see all of this.”
Charges of murder and arrests
First Arrest on April 21, 2025: A 35-year-old from Lidcombe (NSW) was arrested at Melbourne Airport and charged with affray and assault. On April 24, the charges were upgraded to murder.
On April 24, a second arrest was made. A 20-year-old from Kurunjang (Melton) was charged with murder and brought before the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on April 25.
May 1-More arrests. Two more men, one 22 from Roxburgh Park and one 21 from Campbellfield, were charged with affray, intentionally causing injury, attempted robbery, and failing to give a PIN code.
Police took drugs, guns, fireworks, and stolen goods during raids. The Campbellfield man, who was already out on bail for another crime, now has more drug and weapons charges to deal with.
The police think that all of the suspects knew each other and are still looking for others who were involved. The investigation is still going on.
Community Grief and Help for Monique and the Kids
A GoFundMe page for Monique and her kids has raised more than $22,000 of the $40,000 goal.
The campaign says:
- “Now that the only person who made money has died, she has to pay for the funeral, the cost of living, and raising these poor kids all by herself.”
Many people paid their respects on social media:
- “You were always nice to me, like a real friend.”
- “You changed so many lives; you left too soon, brother.”
People in Melbourne wanted more patrols and stricter safety rules along Chapel Street. They said the murder was a wake-up call for nightlife security.
Ruka Carlson’s Legacy
There is a story of love, loyalty, and loss behind the chaos.
Some people were scared of Ruka Carlson, but many others respected him as a protector of his community.
His death showed how quickly a party can turn into a tragedy and how violence still affects Melbourne’s streets.
The Homicide Squad is still asking anyone with video or information to call Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
Monique and their six children will never be able to go back to normal life, but his last words bring them comfort:
“I love you.”
READ MORE : Melbourne Nightmare Deepens — New Arrests in Ruka Carlson Murder Case
What is going on in the Ruka Carlson case
The Victoria Police Homicide Squad is still looking into Ruka Carlson’s murder, and the investigation is still changing.
As of the most recent update:
- Four men have been charged: two with murder and two with affray, intentionally hurting someone, trying to rob someone, and having weapons.
- The 35-year-old from Lidcombe (NSW) is still in custody and is scheduled to appear in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on September 4, 2025.
- The 20-year-old Kurunjang man is also charged with murder and is still in jail waiting for his trial to start.
- The men from Campbellfield and Roxburgh Park were charged with a number of violent and property crimes, including not giving a phone PIN. One of the men was already out on bail for other crimes.
Detectives are still looking at forensic evidence, such as DNA found on weapons, cars, and security camera footage. They are also looking at digital data, like call logs, social media activity, and mobile phones, to piece together what happened before the deadly chase.
Investigators have confirmed that the victim and the suspects knew each other, but they are still looking into what the exact motive was.
Police are still trying to figure out if the fight started inside or outside the Love Machine nightclub and if it had anything to do with past fights between organized groups.
Officials have made many public requests:
- Crime Stoppers asks anyone who was in Prahran between 1 and 2 a.m. on April 20 or who has CCTV or dash-cam footage from Chapel Street to call 1800 333 000 or send information anonymously to crimestoppersvic.com.au.
People close to the investigation say that detectives are looking for more people of interest who are thought to have left the state in the days after the murder.
Prosecutors think the murder trials will start in late 2025 or early 2026, after they have looked over the evidence and held committal hearings.
The case is still gripping Victoria, not just because of how brutal it was, but also because of what it says about how hard it is to keep nightlife safe and free.
Monique and her six young children still want justice, but their determination to hold Ruka Carlson accountable means that his name will not be forgotten in Melbourne.
Conclusion
The story of Ruka Carlson has become one of Melbourne’s most haunting cases in recent years. It is a tragedy that shows how violent the city’s nightlife scene still is.
Carlson’s death on Easter Sunday 2025 was more than just a headline; it was a reminder of how quickly a night of fun can turn into a permanent loss.
As a father of six, he was once seen as a protector and provider. Now, he is the victim of a senseless act of violence that hundreds of people saw on a street that represents Melbourne’s social heart.
Monique, his fiancée, and their kids are in pain in two ways: emotionally and practically. They have to start over while they remember a man who was known for being warm, funny, and fiercely loyal.
People say that Ruka was “feared but respected.” He may have hung out with tough people, but his family was always his top priority. His story shows a bigger truth: in Australia’s major cities, the line between nightlife, loyalty, and danger can get blurry, and this can have terrible effects.
The community response has been strong. Thousands have followed the news, given money to Monique’s fundraiser, and expressed anger at how easily violence breaks out on Chapel Street, a neighborhood known for both glamour and danger.
For many, the answer is more safety measures, better oversight of venues, and a more visible police presence in entertainment districts. This will make sure that no other family has to go through what the Carlsons are going through now.
READ MORE : From Hero to Headline: Inside Caitlin Schiavone’s Dramatic Downfall
Leave a Reply