Declan Lafferty died in the arms of witnesses after his alleged stabbing at Darwin Tavern Airport BWS

A bystander who tried to save the life of a young BWS worker after he was stabbed to death relived the tragic moment when he died in his arms.

Declan Laverty, 20, was minutes away from finishing his shift at the PWS Tavern Bottle Shop in Jingli, Darwin just before 9pm on Sunday when he refused to serve a 19-year-old customer.

The teen allegedly stabbed Mr. Lafferty and fled the scene in a blue 2014 Toyota Camry. He was charged with premeditated murder and aggravated robbery.

Moments after the alleged attack, a witness entered the bottle shop and desperately tried to revive the young worker.

I just went to do what I could to try to save the young man’s life. It was horrible actually.

I thought I was holding him there, but then he died in my arms.

Mr. Lafferty sent his father one final text after he allegedly experienced the assault.

“I love you, stabbed,” the message read.

The worker’s father, who did not wish to be named, told radio station Darwin Mix FM that his son was looking for a new job because he “couldn’t deal” with abusive clients any longer.

“He just pulled a screwdriver on him a few weeks ago,” said the father.

Another employee was physically assaulted and was unable to return to work.

They get attacked more often than not in that specific person as far as I know. He was looking for another job. He couldn’t handle it anymore.

The doting father said he came home Sunday night and found his son’s half-dinner in the fridge.

He remembered Mr Laverty as a “wonderful, tenacious, tough boy” who moved to the Northern Territory from Cairns in Queensland two years ago.

He loved football, and at the moment he really loved music.

He was trying to get some songs and work 30 hour days at the airport bar.

The father called for an end to violence in Darwin and said “something must be done”.

It got really bad for everyone. Whether it’s my son or someone else.

He added that his last interaction with his son was a fist bump before he headed off to work at 2 p.m.

“He went to work and pumped my fist and everything like he always does,” he said.

“Declan, you were the best brother I could ask for,” Laverty’s sister Bridget wrote in a Facebook tribute Monday.

“Your silly laugh your love, your big head will miss you so much bro, forever 20” she said.

Police arrested the 19-year-old who allegedly stabbed Mr Laverty and charged him on Tuesday. He is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday.

Police also made two other arrests, 15 and 16, in connection with the alleged stabbing, and two more from alleged thefts around Darwin earlier in the evening. They have been charged with two counts of aggravated robbery and will appear in court on Tuesday.

During a press conference on Monday, Assistant Commissioner of Police Michael White said detectives believe the alleged stabbing is linked to two separate cases involving Darwin earlier that evening.

“There are two other people in custody, aged 15 and 16, who are assisting the police with inquiries relating to this matter, as well as a separate matter in the bottle shop at the beachfront hotel earlier that evening,” he said.

Police believe that the first incident took place at the Beach Front Hotel in Rapid Creek in central Darwin, and the second on Karama Street in the eastern suburbs of the city.

“We believe that these two incidents are related, and possibly a third incident earlier this evening in Al-Karamah, where a young man was assaulted and a number of things were stolen from her,” said the Assistant Commissioner of Police.

A 17-year-old boy has also been charged with aggravated robbery and will appear in court on April 17.

Investigators seized a blue Toyota Camry that they claimed was present in all three crashes.