Charges have been upgraded to murder for 11 males, including nine boys, over the gang-linked, fatal stabbing of Melbourne teen Solomone Taufeulungaki.
The nine boys, aged from 13 to 17, had previously been charged with offences including violent disorder and affray over the attack at Brimbank Shopping Centre on 16 June.
Those charges were upgraded to murder on Thursday, police confirmed.
Six of the boys are from St Albans, while the other three live in Burnside Heights, Hoppers Crossing and Kings Park.
A 23-year-old Hoppers Crossing man and 20-year-old Sunshine man, who remain in custody, have also been charged with murder.
Victoria Police said the next court appearance over the matter is listed for next month.
Solomone, 15, died after being attacked with knives and baseball bats in the Deer Park shopping centre's car park.
In a bail hearing for one of the two 13-year-olds in June, the court heard a brawl broke out between rival "97" and "VB" gangs.
Assistant Commissioner Bob Hill said Thursday's development was a testament to a police pledge to tackle violent youth gang crime.
"Police understand the adverse impact these gangs have in the community, whether it's disputes between those groups or the high harm offences they commit on members of the general public," he said.
He noted Crime Command had laid murder charges against 18 offenders this week alone, including three in the case of Jarrad Lovison and another three over the death of Adrian Pacione.
"The real story is what sits behind each and every one of those deaths; families, friends and relatives on both sides of these activities are now without loved ones," Mr Hill said.
"The constant in many of these deaths is the links to organised and gang-related crime, and the influence and organised nature of these networks cannot be overstated at any level.
Hundreds gathered for a service at the spot where Solomone Taufeulungaki was stabbed to death in June. Source: AAP
"The arrests over the past five days are a strong and demonstrable statement to these groups that Crime Command will be relentless in the tracking and tracing of offenders to hold them to account."
