Family appeal for information on fatal stabbing of Brandon Yates

28-year-old Brandon Yates was stabbed near a block of units on Crown St, Wollongong on Sunday, August 17, 2025. Police are appealing for information.

Transcript

00:00Didn't get him to the hospital, just seeing him pretty much gone in a coma.

00:10Knowing that someone would take my brother's life for nothing.

00:21When will decision to switch off his life?

00:23Switch off his life support, having to watch my brother pass away.

00:27Because someone wanted to take his life.

00:35I now have to pay the consequence of losing my brother, losing my best mate.

00:40About 3.20am on Sunday the 17th of August, emergency services were called to a unit in Crown Street, Woolugong.

00:48Following reports of a stabbing.

00:50New South Wales ambulance attended and treated the 28-year-old male, a sibling, to the chest.

00:57That male was transported to Woolugong Hospital in a critical condition, and then transferred to Sir George Hospital.

01:04Officers attached to Woolugong PD established a crime scene, and detectives established Strike Course Al-Kai to investigate the circumstances.

01:13Sadly, less than a week later, the 28-year-old man died.

01:16We can now identify that man as Brandon Yates.

01:22Brandon's family has joined us today in this appeal for information.

01:25They're understandably devastated at the loss of their grandson and brother.

01:29He was the most cheekiest, mischief person.

01:35Kind.

01:35Kind person that I knew.

01:38That he had a good heart.

01:40Wouldn't hurt anyone.

01:42Helped everyone.

01:44That's why he got...

01:46People took advantage of him.

01:48Because he had the biggest and kindest heart out there.

01:51And then there he had a disability.

01:54And yeah, he had a disability, so it made him more kind.

02:00And vulnerable.

02:01Yeah, very vulnerable.

02:03Brandon's family deserves closure.

02:05They deserve to know what happened to Brandon.

02:07As part of our appeal for information today, police are releasing CCTV footage that depicts a male dressed in dark clothing riding a bicycle.

02:19That man was seen heading north on Hector Street, Wollongong, around the time that emergency services were called.

02:26Police believe that this man can assist with our inquiries.

02:29Police and anyone with further information is urged to contact Oolongong Police or Prime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.