Sunshine 'hero' shop owner dies from alleged assault injuries

Sunshine shop owner dies from injuries he suffered in alleged youth group bashingPosted Thu 6 Aug 2026 at 9:14amThu 6 Aug 2026 at 9:14am, updated Thu 6 Aug 2026 at 9:40amThu 6 Aug 2026 at 9:40amHung Hong Asian Grocery owner Van Viet Truong has died as a result of injuries he suffered on Saturday. (Supplied)In short:Sunshine grocery shop owner Van Viet Truong has died from injuries he suffered in an alleged group bashing on Saturday.Mr Truong was hailed as a hero after police said he came to the aid of a fellow store owner after an alleged robbery.Police may upgrade charges against five youths aged from 12 to 15 following Mr Truong's death.A Sunshine grocery store owner has died days after allegedly being bashed by a group of teenagers.Van Viet Truong, 60, was hailed as a hero after police said he came to the aid of a fellow retail worker after five youths tried to rob a store near his own shop on Saturday afternoon.Victoria Police confirmed on Thursday morning that Mr Truong died of his injuries. Five youths — three boys, aged 12, 13 and 15, and two girls, both aged 14 — have been charged with affray, violent disorder, intentionally causing serious injury and intentionally causing injury.Victoria Police said detectives would consider upgrading the charges in light of Mr Truong's death.Relatives of Mr Truong rushed from Vietnam to be by his bedside this week.Those close to him described him as "a very friendly and lovely man" and a "hero" who always offered his customers great service in his store.Mr Truong ran the Hong Hung Asian Grocery for almost 30 years with his wife, but the store has remained closed since the weekend.Van Viet Truong (fourth from right) joined other local business leaders in meeting Labor MP Sarah Connolly (centre) last month. (Supplied)Active in the local business community, Mr Truong had just days ago met with fellow business owners and local Labor MP Sarah Connolly to launch a local business mentoring program.It is understood Mr Truong had plans to retire in the near future, last year listing the grocery for sale.The assault prompted an outcry from traders and community leaders for police to do more to keep locals safe.That included five western suburb mayors who banded together to call for police stations to extend their opening times amid rolling closures and reduced hours intended to put frontline police out on patrol.