A police officer who chased, confronted and shot dead a man who fatally stabbed six people in a Sydney shopping center will be publicly praised for her bravery.
NSW Police Inspector Amy Scott, hailed as a hero for ending the stabbing of Joel Cauchi at Bondi Junction Westfield, will accept an award at the Goulburn Police Academy on Friday.
Inspector Scott was carrying out routine checks near the shopping center when the incident occurred on Saturday afternoon, April 13.
After being directed to the scene by bystanders, the officer approached the 40-year-old Queensland man on level five of the complex as shoppers fled and others lay injured.
When Cauchi refused to put down the knife, Inspector Scott shot him in the chest, sending him to the ground.
Inspector Amy Scott (pictured) shot Joel Cauchi dead at Westfield shopping center in Sydney’s east after he killed six people and injured many more, including a baby.
Joel Cauchi is pictured carrying the knife he used to murder six people in Bondi Junction.
He then approached and performed CPR until paramedics arrived, but Cauchi could not be revived.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese praised the officer’s bravery in responding to danger.
“There is no doubt that she saved lives,” he told those gathered at a memorial for the victims in April.
“It’s a reminder that people who wear uniforms are people who run toward danger, not away from it.”
NSW Premier Chris Minns also praised the officer’s “instinctive bravery” as she “ran into danger” and “without a doubt, saved many, many lives.”
Mr Cauchi’s family later issued a statement saying Inspector Scott was “just doing her job to protect others, and we hope she copes well”.
Six people died and another dozen were injured in the attack.
Five women – Ashlee Good, 38, Dawn Singleton, 25, Pikria Darchia, 55, Jade Young, 47, and Yixuan Cheng, 27 – died, along with security guard Faraz Tahir, 30. .
Witnesses said that when Inspector Scott (left) shouted “Put him down” at Cauchi (right), the man accused her, leaving her no choice but to shoot him.
