The family of a Queensland man who went on a stabbing spree in Westfield Bondi frantically called police after recognizing their son from television footage.
Joel Cauchi, 40, entered the local Bondi shopping center shortly after 3pm on Saturday, armed with a large knife and began prowling the complex.
The 40-year-old terrorized crowds of shoppers enjoying a day out, stabbing at least 17 people, including a nine-month-old baby, and killing six.
He was schizophrenic and police believe the horrific attack was linked to mental health issues.
Queensland man Joel Cauchi (pictured) has been named as the man who killed five women and a man at Bondi Junction Shopping Centre.
The 40-year-old man was shot dead by police officer Amy Scott as he went on a knife-wielding rampage through the mall.
Minutes later, as panicked shoppers ran for the exits, lone police officer Amy Scott entered the center and ran in the opposite direction, toward danger.
In a statement, Cauchi’s family said: “We are absolutely devastated by the traumatic events that occurred yesterday in Sydney.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the victims and those still undergoing treatment at this time.
“Joel’s actions were truly horrific and we are still trying to understand what happened.
“He has struggled with mental health issues since he was a teenager.
“We are in contact with the New South Wales Police and the Queensland Police Service and have no issues with the officer who shot our son as she was only doing her job to protect others and us Let’s hope she does well.”
Queensland Police Deputy Commissioner Roger Lowe said Cauchi’s family had been cooperative with police.
“It’s a difficult time to tell someone they’ve lost their son,” Assistant Commissioner Lowe said.
“Their first thoughts towards us were to express their concerns for the family and the victims of these crimes.
“And in particular their thoughts around the police officer, who must have acted courageously in this way.”
The family said Cauchi lived a “vagabond” life and slept in a car and in backpacker hostels.
Assistant Commissioner Lowe confirmed Cauchi had never been arrested or charged by Queensland authorities.
He said the man’s last contact with police was in December 2023, where he was stopped by police.
This is an “intelligence gathering report” in which an officer can record someone displaying “some sort of unusual behavior.”
“This will be investigated, but he has never been charged with any knife-related offense or being found in possession of knives in an unlawful manner that would warrant prosecution,” said Deputy Commissioner Lowe.
Deputy Commissioner Lowe also revealed that Cauchi was diagnosed with a mental illness at 17, but underwent “treatment over the years”, before his mental health appeared to deteriorate in recent years.
Queensland Health records indicate Cauchi last had contact with the public health system “more than a decade ago” but his care was “transferred to a private sector psychiatrist in 2012”.
“He’s been in contact with the police, mainly over the last four to five years, that’s the most contact we’ve had with him,” Assistant Commissioner Lowe said.
“During this contact, we are aware that this person was suffering from mental health issues.”
Police said Cauchi was unemployed, had no fixed address and had lived in Brisbane, Kangaroo Point, Carrina, on the Gold Coast and with his family in southern Queensland before moving to Sydney.
“My understanding is that the last contact with the family was in March,” Assistant Commissioner Lowe said.
“In terms of phone calls or text messages, he would periodically text his mother to let her know where he was.”
Cauchi, who had moved to Sydney in recent months, listed himself on several male escort sites including Australia Cracker, Empire Escorts and Escorts Australia.
All websites allow users to upload their own photos and solicit their own sexual services.
In his biography, Cauchi describes himself as a “handsome, athletic 39-year-old” based in Sydney who was looking for a “fun time”.
He has proposed dozens of “closed-door services” that are too explicit to publish.
The profiles, created around June 2023, were visible on the websites on Sunday morning, but were later deleted.
dailymail us
