A police officer shot and killed a man at a mall in Sydney, Australia, after he fatally stabbed six people. Inspector Amy Scott confronted Joel Cauchi at the Bondi Junction shopping center on April 13 after she heard about the incident while on patrol nearby. The officer attended the scene alone and found Cauchi brandishing a 30cm knife, which she ordered him to place on the floor. He refused and plunged toward the officer, at which point she opened fire and shot him twice in the chest. Officer Scott then attempted life-saving measures, but the suspect died at the scene.
After identifying 40-year-old Cauchi as the perpetrator, police told reporters they were unclear as to his motive but had spoken to his family and discovered he had a history of mental health problems. His relatives issued a statement saying they were devastated by his actions and were still trying to comprehend what happened. “He has battled with mental health issues since he was a teenager,” the statement read.
Some theories have emerged online that Cauchi intended to inflict suffering on women, bolstered by the fact that five of his victims were female. One of those stabbed was a nine-month-old girl, and another, a young mother with her baby whom she handed to strangers immediately before her death.
Prominent Australian TV host Karl Stefanovic noted that Cauchi “walked past men” while reserving his attacks for female shoppers. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the “gender breakdown” was “concerning.”
Andrew Cauchi, the offender’s father, told reporters that his son struggled socially and wanted a girlfriend but was unable to speak to women. “He’s got no social skills, and he was frustrated out of his brain,” Mr. Cauchi said.
Police have identified the victims as 25-year-old Dawn Singleton, 47-year-old Jade Young, 38-year-old Ashlee Good, 30-year-old Faraz Tahir, 55-year-old Pikria Darchia, and 25-year-old Cheng Yixuan. Police commissioner Karen Webb reassured Sydney residents there is no further public threat.
