In Alice Springs, a dramatic scene unfolded as an agitated crowd, motivated by an ancient Indigenous ‘payback’ tradition, targeted a man accused of a heinous crime. The man, Jefferson Lewis, aged 47, is the primary suspect in the abduction and murder of a five-year-old girl.

Following the attack by the enraged group, Lewis was airlifted to Darwin on Friday morning. The incident, which occurred late Thursday night, escalated as the crowd sought what they described as ‘mob justice’ for the child’s tragic death.

Captured in harrowing footage, the chaos showed armed police resorting to tear gas and rubber bullets in an attempt to disperse the locals. The suspect, Lewis, had been severely beaten by vigilantes before law enforcement managed to intervene, transporting him to Alice Springs Hospital.

The situation intensified as a crowd of approximately 400 people gathered outside. In the ensuing turmoil, a police vehicle was set on fire, and a Shell service station was completely destroyed. The violence left five emergency workers injured as they attempted to restore order.

Amidst this upheaval, there are growing concerns that Jefferson Lewis’s family may also become targets for those in the community who reject the established legal system, opting instead for their own form of justice.

Concerns have been raised that Jefferson’s family members could be targeted by locals who refuse to abide by ‘white man law’.

An Alice Springs resident explained that both Lewis and the little girl – whose family has asked to be referred to as Kumanjayi Little Baby – are Warlpiri people. 

‘The Warlpiri mob… when they go off they go off,’ he told news.com.au. ‘You have a thing called payback, so now they can’t get to him they go for the other family members. This won’t stop.’

Confirmed murder suspect Jefferson Lewis, 47, was airlifted to Darwin on Friday morning after being set upon by an angry crowd about 10pm on Thursday

An Alice Springs resident said both Lewis and the little girl – whose family has asked to be referred to as Kumanjayi Little Baby – are both Walpiri people

Lewis was taken into police custody after being beaten by a vigilante group on Thursday night

The Warlpiri people are the traditional owners of the Tanami Desert, which stretches for 184,500sqkm north-west of Alice Springs. 

Lewis is suspected of taking Kumanjayi Little Baby from a house at Old Timers Camp, 6km south of Alice Springs, where he was staying five days ago. 

A local told the Daily Mail that a group of vigilantes beat Lewis after spotting him lying low at Charles Creek Camp, located near the centre of town.

‘A group of young boys saw him walking down the street and they noticed him as the man on the news,’ the local said.

‘They ran up to him and started beating him viciously. He was trying to get under a shipping container; he might have been sleeping there or just trying to get away from the mob.

‘He has been beaten badly and is in a bad way. But this won’t be enough, people want tribal punishment and want to keep going.’

Lewis is understood to be out of hospital and under police custody in Darwin.  

It comes as Indigenous elder Warren Mundine shared a blunt message with the vigilante rioters, warning against the use of ‘tribal punishment’. 

It comes as Indigenous elder Warren Mundine (pictured) shared a blunt message with the vigilante rioters, warning against the use of ‘tribal punishment’

Armed police used rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse a 400-strong crowd on Thursday

‘All that does is create a situation where you hit my cousin or my brother and then I’ve got a right to hit your cousin, I’ve got a right to do this and that,’ he told news.com.au.

Mr Mundine called for calm, saying every Australian had the right to a fair trial. 

‘And it’s only the person who has committed the crime who is punished, we do not go around punishing family, because otherwise you get into an internal brawl that goes on for generations, and that has got to stop,’ he told the publication.

The Northern Territory Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said alcohol sales in the city will be paused today in an attempt to quell the violence.

This comes as Kumanjayi Little Baby’s family released a statement via elder Robin Granites – the child’s grandfather – who pleaded with the Indigenous community to allow justice to take its course.

‘Everyone is feeling upset and emotions are high,’ he said.

A police car was set ablaze (pictured) and a Shell service station completely destroyed. Five emergency workers were injured in the chaos

‘I understand that what happened this week is not our way. Our children are precious. Of course we are feeling angry and hurt.

‘This man has been caught thanks to community action, and we must allow justice to take its course.

‘If you need to come (to Alice Springs) for sorry business, that’s fine, but just come for that and return home.

‘Please. Now is not the time to be heroes on social media or to make trouble.’

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has also joined calls for calm, saying now was the time for the community to come together following the unrest.