During a press conference on Sunday afternoon, the police revealed that before the tragic incident at Westfield Bondi Junction took place, Cauchi was a transient.
He had been living in a different area of the city. The police had been in close contact with his family since last night.
According to Assistant Commissioner Lowe, the police learned from Cauchi’s family that he had been staying in a vehicle or a hostel before the attack.
He had not been in regular contact with his family. Cauchi, who was 17 when he was diagnosed with a mental health issue, would sometimes text his mother to update his location.
A spokesperson for Queensland Health revealed that Cauchi had been treated for his mental health issues a decade ago.
He was eventually sent to a psychiatrist in 2012.
Cauchi’s relatives contacted the police after seeing the footage of the attack on television
. They were trying to understand why the suspect carried out the attack and why he was allegedly capable of killing people in public.
Assistant Commissioner Lowe noted that the family had worked with the police in Queensland and expressed their condolences to the victims’ families and friends.
They also sent a message of support to the police officer who shot and killed their son.