Girlfriend witnessed Oscar Hamilton’s fatal stabbing at Woodgrove shopping centre in Melton

A 16-year-old boy was allegedly stabbed to death in front of his horrified girlfriend at a Melbourne shopping centre.

A 15-year-old boy has been charged with murder after Oscar Hamilton, 16, died at the Woodgrove Shopping Centre food court in Melton on Tuesday.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Teen charged over deadly stabbing.

The incident allegedly began as a verbal argument between two boys before becoming physical, with one brandishing a knife.

Police allege Hamilton suffered multiple stab wounds, and despite a bystander performing CPR, he died at the scene as his attacker fled the area. 7NEWS understands the weapon was a seven-inch hunting knife.

His girlfriend said “right after he got stabbed, he said, ‘Call an ambulance’ and that’s when it all just hit”.

“It all happened in under a minute ... Oscar died before compressions even started,” she told 7NEWS.

She was then tasked with making the unimaginable call to his mother, describing it as “one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do”.

“Oscar never deserved to have any of that happen to him, especially so early on in his life with his whole life ahead of him,” she added.

“Oscar always brought so much joy and light to everyone in his life.

“He had an infectious smile that could brighten up anyone’s bad day.”

Hamilton’s family also paid tribute to the teenager, describing him as a sweet and respectful boy who was taken too soon.

In a statement released on Wednesday, his family said: “Today our world was shattered, broken to pieces by a senseless act that cut short the life of our son and brother, Oscar.”

“His loss has left a gaping hole in our hearts and our grief knows no bounds.”

A 15-year-old Melton West boy was arrested several hours after the incident and was later charged with one count of murder.

He faced a children’s court on Wednesday for a filing hearing, where he wiped away tears as he sat in the dock for his brief court appearance. He was remanded to a committal mention in January and will spend Christmas behind bars.

His lawyer told the magistrate it was the 15-year-old’s first time in custody and he needed to be assessed by a nurse.

The boy did not apply for bail.

Detective Senior Sergeant Nigel L’Estrange said Hamilton’s mother had dropped her son at the centre just before the incident, with school holidays in Victoria starting this week. She was not at the centre when the stabbing occurred.

“As you can imagine, this is an absolutely tragic and senseless act that has occurred here in school holidays in an area where there’s going to be lots of kids attending and a lot of people around,” he said.

Police believe the two boys were known to each other and there were not believed to be any gang links.

- with AAP