Hero Father Critically Injured After Allegedly Intervening in Teen Car Break-in
Colin Sheean remains in an induced coma after being stabbed twice while attempting to stop teenagers he believed were breaking into a car.
A Melbourne father is in an induced coma after being allegedly stabbed by teenagers he intervened to stop during a suspected car break-in. Colin Sheean, 41, was riding his scooter home when he noticed three teenagers acting suspiciously around 12:20 a.m. on Saturday in Langwarrin, a southeastern suburb of Melbourne.
Moments later, Sheean was found with stab wounds to his back and chest, with one knife reportedly left embedded in his body. He was transported to Alfred Hospital and placed in an induced coma. Police have since arrested two 16-year-old boys and a 17-year-old boy in connection with the incident.
Sheean's family has been previously struck by tragedy. In the Christmas holidays of 2021, his wife, Natalie Sheean, died suddenly at the age of 38 after suffering a cardiac arrest. This left Colin to care for their three children, Chanel, Mason, and Faith, who were between six and mid-teens at the time.
A GoFundMe fundraiser initiated to support Colin and his daughters has already raised over $140,000, far exceeding its initial $30,000 target. The organizer of the fundraiser noted that Colin has always been the first to help others but has been too proud to ask for assistance himself, even during difficult times.
The court heard that the 17-year-old suspect allegedly told his father in a text message that Sheean had tried to stop him. The teenager reportedly wrote, "He was a hero, he tried to fight me so I had to stab him."
Police arrested the three teenagers, who appeared in Children's Court on Sunday night. Two were held in custody, while the third was granted bail. Investigators used phone tracking and a dog squad to locate the suspects. The court was informed that the teenagers allegedly exchanged messages discussing hiding, turning themselves in, and attempting to shift blame to the victim.
Major Events Minister Anthony Carbines described the attack as "a disgraceful and violent attack" and commended the police for their swift arrests. "Everyone deserves to be safe and to feel safe, and I’m pleased police made swift arrests to bring people before the courts to be held to account," Carbines stated.