The parents of the maniac who perpetrated a bloody massacre at a Sydney, Australia mall Saturday afternoon denounced their son’s savagery as “truly horrific,” and sent well wishes to the cop who gunned him down.
Joel Cauchi, 40, killed six people and injured at least a dozen more in the deadly stabbing rampage at Westfield Bondi Junction before he was shot dead by Inspector Amy Scott, the first officer on the scene, according to New South Wales Police.
His victims included Pikria Darchia, a 55-year-old artist and designer; osteopath Ashlee Good, 38; security guard Faraz Tahir, 30; Dawn Singleton, 25 — the daughter of Australian multi-millionaire advertising guru John Singleton; architect Jade Young, 47 and an unnamed 20-year-old women. A dozen others — mostly women — were injured, including Good’s infant child.
Cauchi’s parents Andrew and Michele condemned their son for carrying out the deadliest mass-casualty attack in the nation in years and said they had no issue with Scott taking his life to halt the violence.
“We are absolutely devastated by the traumatic events that occurred in Sydney yesterday,” they said in a statement shared by police on their behalf.
“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 comprehend what has happened. He has battled with mental health issues since he was a teenager.”
Queensland Police Assistant Commissioner Roger Lowe said detectives had been with the family since the attack as they collected information in connection with the investigation — which has so far turned up no motive.
“As the family have co-operated with the Queensland Police Service in this regard, and we are issuing a statement on their behalf with respect to their own condolences and thoughts to the family and friends of those victims involved in this tragedy,” Lowe said, according to News.com.au.
“Equally, they have sent a message to the NSW Police Force with respect to support of the police officer who has killed their son and expressing their concerns for her welfare.”
Lowe reportedly said that the family told him that Cauchi had schizophrenia, which recently worsened, and had been sleeping in a vehicle or at a hostel before the attack after recently moving to North South Wales. He was not in regular contact with his parents, according to the official.
The purported mass killer had also advertised solicited work on male escort websites, according to The Daily Mail, and had a penchant for reviewing knives, strip clubs and brothels online, Newshub reported.
With Post wires
