Dozens of charges laid over Alice Springs riot after five-year-old's death

Monday, 4 May 2026 16:03

Thirteen people have been charged after a crowd stormed a petrol station and supermarket during a riot which broke out over the death of Kumanjayi Little Baby.

Last Thursday, the body of a child believed to be that of the five-year-old girl was found after a five-day search.

The man suspected of her murder, 47-year-old Jefferson Lewis, was found later that night, when he was arrested and taken to Alice Springs Hospital.

CCTV vision shows people ransacking the aisles of the petrol station and taking items from the shelves.

Following his arrest, violence broke out outside the hospital late in the evening as a grieving crowd demanded the man be handed over to be dealt with by the community.

As the crowd dispersed, dozens of people poured into the Shell Express and Piggly's Supermarket at The Gap.

CCTV vision shows people ransacking the aisles of the petrol station and taking items from the shelves.

Police said about $105,000 worth of property was stolen and $80,000 of damage caused.

CCTV footage released by police shows people ransacking the aisles of the petrol station and taking items from the shelves.

Northern Territory Police Commissioner Martin Dole said the behaviour was "not people processing grief in relation to the death of Baby Kumanjayi".

As the crowd dispersed, dozens of people poured into the Shell Express and Piggly's Supermarket at The Gap.

Police have since charged four women and three men with aggravated burglary and theft.

Two of the women, aged 26 and 24, were charged with two counts of each offence.

Another 36-year-old woman was charged with one count each of aggravated burglary, theft and breach of suspended sentence.

A 26-year-old man was charged with one count each of aggravated burglary, theft and breach of suspended sentence.

A 32-year-old man was charged with two counts each of aggravated burglary and theft and one count of breach of suspended sentence.

A 29-year-old man was charged with two counts of aggravated burglary and theft and one count each of damage of property, attempt arson and armed with an offensive weapon at night.

A 36-year-old man was charged with one count each of unlawfully cause serious harm, aggravated assault and breach of DVO.

A 49-year-old man was charged with one count of breach of bail and one count of breach of suspended sentence.

Repairman Kim Shegog told 9News the lost stock came at a cost for the business.

"We had a skip (bin), we filled the skip up with all the food," he said.

"All of the food that had use-by dates had to be disposed because it's going to be two to three weeks to get the place back up and running again."

Northern Territory Police acting superintendent Michael Ordelman denounced the alleged behaviour.

"The businesses involved have suffered extensive monetary loss," Ordelman said.

Jefferson Lewis was yesterday charged with the murder of Kumanjayi Little Baby.

He is expected to appear in court tomorrow.

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