Bottle shop worker's final text to dad after being fatally stabbed

The father of a 20-year-old Darwin bottle shop worker who was stabbed to death minutes before he was due to finish his shift said his son sent him a final text before he died.

The man, who didn't give his name, told a local radio station his son, who has been named as Declan Laverty messaged him, "love you, I've been stabbed," at 8.45pm last night after the attack at the BWS bottle shop in Jingili in the city's north.

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Police say the teen was attacked with a knife just before 9pm.

It's believed the alleged attacker was refused service.

The father said he rushed to the shop in an Uber, as his son had taken his car, to find emergency services there.

A security guard had tried to save his son, but he had already died, he told host Katie Woolf on Darwin radio station Mix FM.

He said his son, who had only lived with him in Darwin for two years since he moved from Cairns, had been looking for another job because of the issues at the store.

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He described his son, who he said he lived alone with, as "a wonderful, opinionated, strong lad."

"He loved his football, and he was really into music at the moment. He was trying to get some songs released and studying as well and working 30-odd hours a week at the BWS airport," he said.

He said he was struggling to deal with what had happened.

"It's just little things. When I come home his dinner is in the fridge from last night," he said.

A witness who arrived at the scene shortly after the attack described it one of the most confronting scenes he'd ever seen.

NT Police said the alleged attacker fled the scene in a car.

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A 19-year-old man was arrested this morning.

NT Police said he is expected to be charged later today.

The Endeavour Group, which owns BWS, has released a statement of support for the victim's family, friends and loved ones.

"We will offer counselling and support to all our team members in Darwin across BWS and AIH Hotels, and the team member's family," CEO Steve Donohue said.

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