'Taken too soon': Family mourns mystery death of Wayne Russell, 12, as racist trolls attack his heritage
WOLLONGONG, SYDNEY: A teenage boy died after being found injured in front of a friend's house 30 minutes after a dramatic car crash took place Tuesday, October 4, 2022, in Wollongong, south of Sydney.
12-year-old Wayne Russell's grieving family said they do not know what led to their 'little soulja's death. Meanwhile, the family's friends have put up a united front to combat hateful trolls who made racist comments online targeting the boy's indigenous heritage.
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After emergency personnel responded to a report of a youngster with "serious injuries," Wayne Russell, 12, was discovered in the Wollongong suburb of Balgownie, south of Sydney, at around two in the morning. Wayne was given medical attention by NSW Ambulance personnel before being taken to Wollongong Hospital, where he was later declared dead, according to Dailymail.
A black Holden Barina smashed into a traffic signal at Towradgi, three minutes away from Balgownie, at around 1.35 in the morning before they found Wayne, prompting police to launch a massive traffic accident investigation. When officers from the nearby Corrimal Police Station arrived on the scene of the collision, they discovered the Barina near a telephone pole with the doors of the driver and passengers all wide open and no one inside the mangled vehicle.
Friends and family remembered Russell as a "nice" schoolboy with "a cheeky smile". Wayne's cousin, Jamain Russell, posted on Facebook, "Love you my brah ... we will see you soon, love you soo much rest easy my soulja my cuzz, rest in paradise. We just need the closure right for what happen too you my little cuzz.''
Another cousin, Quiarnii Russell, posted, "My heart is hurting, R.I.P little cuzzy taken way to soon. Our hearts are shattered," while Wayne's aunt Morgs Quirk wrote, "Rest easy in the dream time nephew. #forever12. RIP lil Wayne."
The mother of two boys who attended Woonona East Public School with Wayne shared a picture showing him in class holding up a school project with one of her sons, and the two boys applauding together with painted faces in what appeared to be an indigenous celebration.
"Gone way before your time little buddy!!," the mother wrote. "You will be missed by all who met you. A smile that lit a room and the best personality a boy could have. You were always so polite to me and a good mate to my boys. Rest in paradise Lil Wayne!!"
Meanwhile, friends of the boy’s family also denounced the racist trolling of his indigenous heritage. "Beyond disgusting comments!!" one wrote. "A lot of these ppl need serious help from a psych. Sick in the head."
Another said, "Racist pieces of s**t some of them always gotta bring up the fact (he's) Koori." Another angry Facebook user wrote, "Comments on this is absolutely heartbreaking, people are so friken nasty!"
Meanwhile, NSW Police Detective Acting Inspector Jason Hogan said the police are looking into whether Wayne's death was connected to the dangerous TikTok trend known as "creeping while you sleep," in which young Australians record themselves committing major crimes including car theft and speeding.
"We'd appeal for anyone that might have social media content that would cover the incidents that's happened this morning to come forward," he said. "We're investigating all lines of inquiry and the social media line will be investigated too."
Anyone with knowledge about the collision or dashcam footage of how Wayne Russell was hurt is asked to contact the police.