A house party turned deadly in Brisbane’s elite Clayfield suburb. That was when Greg Josephson, 58, co-founder and former CEO of fashion retailer Universal Store, was stabbed to death inside his luxury mansion on Thursday night. The alleged attacker (a 15-year-old boy) has been charged with murder and is currently being held without bail.
Police confirmed that roughly 30 teenagers were attending the gathering at Josephson’s sprawling three-story home when an altercation broke out around 8:15 p.m. Queensland Police say Josephson knew the boy before the incident even happened. The fatal attack was carried out using a common household item rather than a knife brought to the scene.
“There was some sort of altercation that resulted in this 58-year-old male tragically losing his life,” said Acting Assistant Commissioner Rhys Wildman. “It’s not a case of carrying knives—it’s unfortunately allotted in a home.”
The party, described by neighbors as “extremely quiet” before the incident, spiraled into chaos after the stabbing. Josephson was found critically wounded by first responders and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police launched an immediate manhunt, arresting the suspect just two blocks south of the residence. According to Detective Craig Williams, many of the teenagers at the party were unaware that the stabbing had occurred. “It was a confusing situation,” Williams said. He also noted that several young attendees are now assisting police with the investigation.
Universal Store CEO Murdered in Brisbane
Greg Josephson wasn’t just a successful businessman; he helped shape an entire generation’s style. In 1999, he co-founded Universal Store with his brother Michael, catering to fashion-forward youth aged 15 to 34. The brand flourished under his leadership, and in 2018, it was sold to a private equity consortium for a reported $100 million.
Following the sale, Josephson remained active as the CEO of Josephson Holdings Pty Ltd., but kept a relatively low profile.
Australian CEO Greg Josephson stabbed to death during party at mansion, 15-year-old boy arrested https://t.co/gpbPP50QN3 pic.twitter.com/FDEkop1SGs
— New York Post (@nypost) June 27, 2025
Universal Store released a brief but emotional statement confirming his death:
“We wanted to share the sad news that Greg Josephson, who founded our company and played a significant role until 2018, has recently passed away. Our sincere thoughts and condolences are with his family at this very sad time.”
The tragic incident occurred at Josephson’s opulent home, a six-bedroom, six-bathroom mansion purchased for $1.25 million in 2016 and valued at over $3.2 million today.
It had been recently listed for sale, as Josephson was planning to relocate with his family to Noosa.
Shockwaves in a Wealthy Suburb and Among a Teen Crowd
Clayfield residents have been left rattled by the killing, which unfolded in an otherwise serene and high-security neighborhood. A neighbor told The Courier Mail, “It was extremely quiet, I wouldn’t have even known there was a party going on last night.”
This situation is really puzzling because the event didn’t get much attention, and the victim was already known to the person who is accused of the assault. The cops are still trying to figure out why it happened. They’re talking to the teenagers who were there to try to get the story straight about what went down. And of course, what was the reason?
Teenager charged with murder at Brisbane party | 7NEWS https://t.co/9D6wikHWJV via @YouTube
15 year old boy charged with murder of a 58 year old Universal Store owner known to him – at a ritzy house party with over thirty teenagers. Wtaf.What the?! Why? #auspol #qldpol pic.twitter.com/mVpI5YVLcL
— 🌹 Imogen 🌹 (@twtrrr) June 27, 2025
So, who’s keeping an eye on parties and the fact that kids are there, too? Violence in private, seemingly safe spaces, and it’s just getting more dangerous. This case involves a well-known person, and it happened in a fancy neighbourhood, so everyone’s going to be talking about how teenagers act, how we keep our homes safe, and about juvenile crimes.
As of now, no further details about the motive or the 15-year-old suspect’s identity have been released. Queensland authorities have confirmed the investigation is ongoing.
