A mother who died protecting her 9-month-old daughter. A security guard who fled persecution in Pakistan. And a newly engaged professional who was the daughter of a well-known ad exec.
These are some of the six victims stabbed to death by a knife-wielding maniac at the Westfield Bondi Junction mall outside Sydney, Australia on Saturday.
Joel Cauchi, 40, was shot dead by a responding officer after stabbing at least 14 people — mostly women — during his afternoon rampage at the crowded shopping center, officials said.
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The motive for the transient man’s massacre was not immediately apparent, but police said it was probably “related” to the schizophrenic’s “mental health” problems.
Five of the victims have so far been identified by friends and family members. They are:
- Pikria Darchia, a 55-year-old artist and designer
- Ashlee Good, 38, a new mom who worked as a physical therapist
- Dawn Singleton, 25, an ecommerce assistant whose father is millionaire entrepreneur John Singleton
- Faraz Tahir, 30, a security guard who was killed protecting shoppers
- Jade Young, 47, an architect and mother of two
- Yixuan Cheng, 24, a Chinese national studying in Australia
Darchia recently worked for ten years as a senior designer in Tbilisi, Georgia, according to her LinkedIn page, where she identified herself as an artist.
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Good died of her wounds after trying to protect her baby daughter,identified as 9-month-old Harriet, before thrusting her into the arms of a stranger.
“The mom got stabbed, and the mom came over with the baby and threw it at me, and I was holding the baby,” the witnesstold 9News Sydney.
Harriet remained hospitalized in serious condition after apparently being stabbed in the stomach, News.com.au reported.
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Good’s family was“reeling from the terrible loss of Ashlee, a beautiful mother, daughter, sister, partner, friend, all-round outstanding human and so much more,” according to the BBC.
“We appreciate the well-wishes and thoughts of members of the Australian public who have expressed an outpouring of love for Ashlee and our baby girl,” the family said in a Sunday statement.
Stay updated with the latest on the Sydney mall stabbing attack
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- Heroic mom Ash Good killed while protecting baby during stabbing spree at Sydney mall
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South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas, who went to school with Good’s partner Daniel Flanagan, said it was “incomprehensible” that the family had been so “aggressively affected” by the attack.
Good was the daughter of former Australian Football League player Kerry Good, whose team North Melbourne wore black armbands in her memoryduring its Sunday match.
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Tahir was a security guard at the shopping centerand a “cherished member” of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of Australia, the group said in a statement.
“Faraz Tahir, aged 30, sought refuge in Australia just a year ago, fleeing persecution in his home country of Pakistan,” the statement read.
“He quickly became an integral part of our community, known for his unwavering dedication and kindness.”
Westfield’s management company said that Tahir died while trying to protect mall-goers.
“We are devastated by Faraz’s passing and recognize our team member’s bravery and role as a first responder,” Scentre Group said in a statement.
“Our deepest and heartfelt condolences go out to his family and all who are mourning the loss of loved ones.
Singleton was the newly-engaged daughter of wealthy advertising entrepreneur John Singleton and lawyer Julie Martin, and had reportedly bought her wedding dress just days earlier, according to Britain’s LBC radio.
She worked as a e-commerce assistant for the Sydney-based fashion label White Fox Boutique, which remembered her in a statement as a “sweet, kind-hearted person who had her whole life ahead of her.”
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Singleton had graduated from the University of Technology Sydney, where she majored in digital and social media,her LinkedIn profile said.
Young, a mother-of-two, had worked at Georgina Wilson Associates in Double Bay for the past nine years, with a focus on high-end residential and commercial spaces, according to Mamamia.
She was also a member of the Bronte Surf Club, who shared its “profound sadness” in a statement.
“[Young’s] family are involved and much-loved members and contributors to the club, most notably in the nipper and cadet programs. On behalf of Bronte Surf Lifesaving Club, we extend our deepest condolences to the family,” the message reportedly read.
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“Many club members will be affected by the loss of Jade and the impact of this senseless and tragic event will affect each of us differentlyover time.”
Little Harriet and seven other victims remained hospitalized Sunday.
New South Wales Police Inspector Amy Scott was lauded as a hero for rushing in to confront Cauchi, then shooting him dead to halt the massacre.
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“The wonderful inspector who ran into danger by herself and removed the threat that was there to others, without thinking about the risks to herself,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.
Albanese also praised “ordinary Australians” who put “themselves in harm’s way in order to help their fellow citizens.”
The attack startled the nation, where mass casualty events are rare, partially due to its strict gun and knife laws.
With Post wires
