Daily London
Video footage emerged yesterday of the detective senior constable approaching the shooters, taking cover behind trees as they opened fire on crowds with long-arm guns from a footbridge.
Wearing no protective equipment, he was seen raising his pistol and firing towards the attackers.
His shots are believed to have killed 50-year-old killer Sajid Akram, and wounded 24-year-old alleged shooter Naveed Akram, who was then arrested by police at the scene.
Barraza appeared on the police reality TV show Recruits more than 15 years ago.
“My name is Cess Barraza, I’m 26 and I want to be a police officer because I hate crime,” he said on the program.
This afternoon, NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said authorities had not yet confirmed Barraza’s shots struck the Akrams, but praised his actions in confronting them.
“We’re still awaiting ballistic examination before we can confirm who fired that shot,” he said.
“I’m proud of the officer who has been identified, as I am of every police officer there on that day.
“The bravery they went through to approach and resolve that situation is incredible.”
A statement from his family said he has a challenging recovery ahead of him, including several rounds of surgery, after “miraculously surviving”.
He has only served in the police force for four months, but Lanyon assured that he will be supported.
“We will find appropriate duties for him, depending on the nature of that injury and his capacity,” the commissioner said.
