A woman killed in Saturday’s shopping center tragedy in Sydney has been identified as a 25-year-old bride-to-be.
Dawn Singleton, the daughter of prominent businessman John Singleton, sadly lost her life as a result of the attack on April 13.
Five other shoppers were also killed, while a dozen others – including a nine-month-old baby – were injured.
Per her LinkedIn profile, she had studied for a degree in communications at the University of Technology Sydney and worked as an e-commerce assistant at White Fox Boutique.
The business paid tribute to Singleton in a statement on Instagram, saying: “We lost not only an employee of White Fox but someone special to us who felt like a family member.”
Dawn Singleton was due to get married this year. Credit: LinkedIn
“Dawn was a sweet, kind-hearted person who had her whole life ahead of her,” the added. “She was really amazing. We are all truly devastated by this loss. We send our condolences to her partner, the Singleton family and her friends. She will always be remembered as part of the White Fox family.”
Singleton’s friend has informed The Daily Telegraph that the 25-year-old was due to marry the love of her life and high school sweetheart later this year – NSW Police Officer Ashley Wildey. The couple had already sent out their ‘Save the Date’ invitations.
“She only bought her wedding dress last week,” the friend told the publication.
Taking to Facebook, another of Singleton’s friends, Jade O’Connor, paid tribute, writing: “I should be writing your wedding speech Instead I sit here sobbing coming to terms with how life isn’t fair that you are no longer here.”
“Dawn, you were my best friend, my absolute whole world,” O’Connor’s statement added. “You were kind and caring and the absolute best dog mom. You lit up every room you walked into.”
What We Know About The Attacks So Far
Incident Details: As a result of Saturday’s horrifying stabbing rampage in Sydney, it has been confirmed that six victims have lost their lives, and several others sustained injuries.
The incident took place just after 3:00PM on Saturday afternoon at the busy Westfield’s Bondi Junction mall, with police and first responders being dispatched at around 3:30PM. Eyewitnesses have recounted scenes of chaos and terror as shoppers fled the violent attack, seeking refuge in nearby stores to escape the assailant’s onslaught. Others have stated how the assailant appeared to be targeting people at random.
NSW police and ambulance vehicles line the streets outside Westfield Bondi Junction. Credit: Lisa Maree Williams / Getty
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed profound shock and disbelief at the senseless attacks, describing the incident as “beyond words and understanding”.
A motive for the attack is still unknown, but authorities have stated that the knifeman was “acting alone” and that it is not deemed to be a “terror-related” incident.
Members of the public look on outside Westfield Bondi Junction. Credit: Lisa Maree Williams / Getty
Casualties: According to New South Wales Police Commissioner Karen Webb, the initial death toll from the attack included the tragic deaths of four women and one man at the shopping mall. Another woman later succumbed to her injuries after being rushed to a nearby hospital.
Local reports currently state the named victims so far have been revealed to be 30-year-old Faraz Tahir, 25-year-old Dawn Singleton, 38-year-old Ashlee Good, 47-year-old Jade Young, and 55-year-old Pikria Darchia.
Additionally, eight more individuals are currently receiving treatment for various injuries sustained during the rampage at hospitals across Sydney. Among the injured is a nine-month-old baby who underwent surgery, as confirmed by Webb.
Suspect and Police Response: Law enforcement officials have now named the suspect as 40-year-old Joel Cauchi – a man who was known to police in the neighbouring state of Queensland, had moved to Sydney, the capital of New South Wales, last month. He reportedly had no criminal record.
Anthony Cooke, the assistant commissioner of New South Wales Police has told reporters: “We are continuing to work through the profiling of the offender but very clearly to us at this stage it would appear that this is related to the mental health of the individual involved.”
The heroic actions of a female police inspector on the scene, who swiftly neutralized the assailant when he raised his knife in her direction, have been widely praised. Cooke informed reporters of the moment the officer approached the assailant.
“[The officer] confronted the offender who had moved, by this stage, to level five,” Cooke said. “As she continued to walk quickly behind to catch up with him he turned to face her, raised a knife, she discharged a firearm and that person is now deceased.”
Prime Minister Albanese commended the officer’s bravery, saying: “She is certainly a hero. There is no doubt that she saved lives through her action.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, NSW Premier Chris Minns (C) and Allegra Spender (L) lay floral tributes Oxford Street Mall at Westfield Bondi Junction. Credit: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty
A Rare Attack For Australia: The shocking attack has left Australia shaken, a nation where mass casualty events are exceedingly rare.
The incident is a poignant reminder of the nation’s scattered but tragic history of violence, with comparisons drawn to past atrocities such as the 1996 Port Arthur massacre in Tasmania, which claimed 35 lives, and the 2019 mass shooting in Darwin that resulted in multiple fatalities. The rarity of such incidents underscores the gravity of the tragedy and the profound impact it has had on the Australian community.
Our thoughts continue to go out to the victims’ loved ones and the people of Sydney at this time.
