Who Was Joel Cauchi? Attacker Who Targeted Women In Sydney Mall

Australian authorities announced on April 15 that they are investigating the circumstances surrounding a tragic incident on April 11 in which a 40-year-old man, Joel Cauchi, who was known to have mental health issues, went on a rampage in a Sydney shopping mall, wielding a large knife. Cauchi's violent spree resulted in the deaths of six people and left a dozen others injured. Surveillance footage captured Cauchi targeting mostly women in the crowded Westfield shopping complex in Bondi Junction.

The assailant was ultimately shot dead by a female police officer, Amy Scott, who acted swiftly to protect others. Cauchi's parents expressed their condolences to the victims and condemned their son's actions as "truly horrific." They also extended their gratitude to Officer Scott for her bravery in the face of danger.

In videos shared on social media, Cauchi can be seen attacking mall-goers at the Westfield shopping complex in Bondi Junction. Solo police inspector Amy Scott brought an end to the killing rampant killings by shooting him dead.

Why He Targeted Only Women?

Five of the six victims who were killed by Joel Cauchi were women. One of the victims was 25-year-old Dawn Singleton, the daughter of Australian advertising mogul John Singleton. Another victim, Yixuan Cheng, was a young student from China. Another woman killed was 38-year-old Ashlee Good, mom of nine-month-old Harriet who was also stabbed and injured.

Good's family described her as "a beautiful mother, daughter, sister, partner, friend, all-round outstanding human and so much more. Two men held and cared for our baby when Ashlee could not. Words cannot express our gratitude to them", they said in a statement to Australian media. Harriet is reportedly in a stable condition.

Another victim was 47-year-old Jade Young, a photographer, architect, and mother of two. The next victim, 55-year-old Pikria Darchia was an artist. The only man who was killed by Cauchi was Faraz Tahir, a 30-year-old mall security guard originally from Pakistan. The police are yet to pinpoint the assailant's intentions behind the killings.

"It's obvious to me, it's obvious to detectives that seems to be an area of interest that the offender had focused on women and avoided the men," New South Wales State Police Commissioner Karen Webb told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. Reportedly, Cauchi was suffering from a mental illness since he was a teenager.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that he is in touch with the families of some of the victims. "The gender breakdown is of course concerning. Each and every victim here is mourned," he told ABC Radio. He has promised a thorough investigation into the case. Vigils have been carried out across Australia in remembrance of the victims. 

About Joel Cauchi:

According to information gathered from Joel Cauchi's social media accounts, he hails from Toowoomba, a city near Brisbane in Queensland, and has received education at a local high school and university. Joel Cauchi had a distinctive tattoo of a grey, red, and yellow dragon on his right arm, which served as a key identifying feature.

Cauchi's family has disclosed that he has struggled with mental health issues "since he was a teenager." He primarily resided in a vehicle or hostel and maintained sporadic communication with his parents via text messages.

Approximately a month prior to the attack, Joel Cauchi travelled to Sydney, where he leased a small storage unit. Authorities found his personal belongings in the unit after the incident occurred.