Tributes flow for man stabbed to death on infamous Aussie party strip during night out

Jayme Sykes, 20, was tragically killed during an altercation in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Jayme Sykes smiles at the beach wearing sunglasses (left) and holds a bottle of beer and smiles inside a hospitality venue (right).
Jayme Sykes was stabbed to death along a popular party street in Geelong. Source: Facebook

WARNING: DISTRESSING IMAGERY. A man allegedly stabbed to death outside of a club on a notoriously violent party strip has sparked concern among the community, with many claiming not enough is being done to keep people safe.

The victim has been identified as Jayme Sykes, a well known barber who goes by "Chugs" among friends and family. He died in the early hours of Sunday morning after the 20-year-old and his friend got into an altercation with another group. He was reportedly left lying in a pool of his own blood on Little Malop Street in Geelong, with Homicide Squad Detectives rushing to the scene around 5.30am and finding the Corio man with a stab wound.

Sykes was rushed to hospital in a critical condition where he later died. Two other men involved in the altercation took themselves to hospital and are being treated for non-life-threatening injuries. It is unknown if they are suspects, however, it is understood the pair have been questioned.

The exact circumstances surrounding the incident are being investigated and that investigation remains ongoing, Victoria Police said in a statement on Sunday.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information that could assist is urged to contact police.

Blood can be seen along the footpath and a flowerbed on Little Malop Street (left) and a Forensic officer takes pictures of a site of interest (right).
A large area of Little Malop Street was an active crime scene on Sunday. Source: 9News

Dozens of heartfelt tributes from loved ones have been written on social media, with many sharing how heartbroken they were that the "friendly giant" with a "big heart" lost his life on a night out.

"Rest In Peace chugs you were there for me through thick and thin, one of my best mates. I can't believe that it has to end so soon," a friend named Jake wrote.

Friends said he "lit up every room" and they would be "forever grateful" for the time they shared together.

Despite the shocking nature of the incident over the weekend, a nearby restaurant manager admitted he was "not surprised" to hear of it.

"I'm not surprised that something has happened, there was a glassing last weekend just around the corner, it's happening all the time," Alex Smith told Nine News. "The cops are doing nothing about it, something needs to happen and it needs to happen now."

Another local business owner lamented that parents "send your kids out at night" to the area and "you don't know if they're going to come home".

Many local businesses were unable to operate on Sunday as an active crime scene was still in place, with the SES called in to search for a murder weapon.

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