The hero police officer who shot Bondi Beach terrorist Sajid Akram has been identified as Detective Senior Constable Cesar Barraza.
Barraza, a Bondi-based detective, reportedly fired at Sajid and his son Naveed Akram from about 40m away as the pair targeted members of the Jewish community during Sunday’s Hanukkah event.
Barraza’s shots are believed to have killed Sajid, 50, and wounded Naveed, 24.
Critical incident investigators interviewed Barraza on Wednesday morning and continue to review body-worn camera footage of the mass shooting.
Investigators will continue to analyse the police response and the shooting of the father and son.
While Barraza is believed to have fired the fatal shot, ballistics analysis is expected to confirm which officer’s weapon killed the 50-year-old.
Wearing a shirt and tie, the former cybercrime squad detective was on duty Sunday and raced to the scene amid the chaos.
After arriving near Bondi Pavilion, south of the shooters, Barraza took cover behind a tree, pointed his gun towards the footbridge where the attackers stood, and fired.
Detective Senior Constable Cesar Barraza has been identified as the hero police officer who shot Bondi Beach terrorist Sajid Akram
Sajid Akram during his terror attack at Bondi Beach
Naveed Akram (pictured) remains in hospital under police guard after being shot by officers and woke from a coma on Tuesday
His pinpoint accuracy from long-range with a standard-issue detective’s Glock pistol – usually only truly accurate up to 10m – has been hailed as the ‘shot of a lifetime’.
The veteran of 16 years’ experience in NSW Police has previously featured in the 2000s reality TV show Recruits, which followed new officers starting their careers.
Asked on the show why he wanted to become a police officer, the much-younger Barraza said simply: ‘Because I hate crime.’
Two police officers, Constable Scott Dyson and Probationary Constable Jack Hibbert, were seriously injured in the terror attack and remain in hospital.
In a statement, the Hibbert family said: ‘Jack was taken to ICU where he was intubated and underwent multiple surgeries.
‘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, with additional surgeries required.’
Constable Dyson, a talented water polo player who has represented Australia, has served in the eastern suburbs command for 18 months, police said.
He was allegedly shot in the shoulder and abdomen by Naveed using a high-powered rifle.
Constable Hibbert was one of several officers already at the beach when the shooting started.
Cesar Barraza once said he wanted to join police because he ‘hates crime’
Mr Barraza seen on the footbridge moments after the shooters were gunned down
He and his son had just left their car and were walking near Archer Park when the Akrams began shooting at them.
Constable Hibbert was pulling members of the public to safety when he was hit by a bullet. Shrapnel damaged the nerves behind his eye, which he may lose.
Sajid and his son had moved into a short-stay rental home in Campsie before allegedly heading out on their killing spree.
His wife, Venera, said she thought her husband and son had gone fishing in Jervis Bay.
The father and son arrived at Bondi Beach in a silver Hyundai Elantra, and emerged with rifles and extra ammunition around their waists just before 6.40pm on Sunday.
From a bridge at the northern end of the beach, they allegedly opened fire on the crowds celebrating Hanukkah – killing 15 and injuring 42.
Naveed Akram was hospitalised in a critical condition with bullet wounds where he underwent emergency surgery.
He regained consciousness on Tuesday night after being in a coma for 48 hours.
It has emerged that the father and son visited the Philippines weeks before the attack, raising fears they may have been influenced by Islamist extremists.