The police officer hailed as a hero for ending a deadly terror attack at Sydney's Bondi Beach has been named as Detective Senior Constable Cesar Barraza. The detective is believed to have fired the shot that killed 50-year-old Sajid Akram during Sunday's assault on a Hanukkah celebration.
The Long-Range Shot That Ended the Attack
Barraza, a detective based at Bondi, reportedly engaged the attackers from approximately 40 metres away. He took cover behind a tree near the Bondi Pavilion after racing to the chaotic scene while on duty. From there, he aimed his standard-issue Glock pistol towards the footbridge where Sajid Akram and his 24-year-old son, Naveed, were positioned and opened fire.
His precision with a weapon typically considered accurate only up to 10 metres has been described by colleagues as the 'shot of a lifetime'. The gunfire is believed to have killed Sajid Akram and wounded his son Naveed, who remains in hospital under police guard after waking from a coma on Tuesday.
Investigation and Officer Injuries
Critical incident investigators interviewed Detective Barraza on Wednesday morning and are reviewing body-worn camera footage from the mass shooting. While Barraza is considered to have fired the fatal shot, ballistics analysis will confirm which officer's weapon killed the 50-year-old terrorist.
The attack left two other police officers with serious injuries. Constable Scott Dyson, a water polo player who has represented Australia, was allegedly shot in the shoulder and abdomen by Naveed Akram using a high-powered rifle. Probationary Constable Jack Hibbert was already at the beach when the shooting started and was pulling members of the public to safety when he was hit.
The Hibbert family released a statement revealing Jack underwent multiple surgeries in ICU. 'Although miraculously surviving, Jack's injuries have resulted in a loss of vision in one of his eyes and he now faces a long and challenging recovery ahead,' the statement said. Shrapnel damaged the nerves behind his eye, which he may still lose.
Background of the Attack and the Officer
Sajid and Naveed Akram had moved into a short-stay rental in Campsie before allegedly embarking on their killing spree. The father and son arrived at Bondi Beach in a silver Hyundai Elantra just before 6:40pm on Sunday, emerging with rifles and extra ammunition. From a bridge at the northern end of the beach, they opened fire on the crowds, killing 15 people and injuring 42.
Detective Senior Constable Cesar Barraza is a 16-year veteran of the NSW Police. He once appeared on the reality TV show 'Recruits' in the 2000s. When asked on the show why he wanted to join the force, a younger Barraza stated simply: 'Because I hate crime.'
It has since emerged that the Akrams visited the Philippines weeks before the attack, raising concerns they may have been influenced by Islamist extremist ideologies. The investigation into the police response and the circumstances of the shooting continues.
