Parents of FIFO worker who stabbed seven innocent bystanders in shopping centre rampage 'hold no grudges' against the police officers who shot him dead
- Ashley Fildes was gunned down by police after the violent rampage on Friday
- The 34-year-old, in hi-vis workwear, was seen pacing through a shopping centre
- The rampage occurred at South Hedland Square in WA's Pilbara region on Friday
- His parents said they do not hold any grudges against the police who shot him
The parents of a FIFO worker who stabbed seven strangers with a large kitchen knife say they do not hold any grudges against the police officers who shot him dead.
Ashley Fildes, 34, embarked on the terrifying rampage at South Hedland in Western Australia - knifing five people inside the local shopping centre, plus a man at a nearby motel and another in a car at a McDonald's carpark.
Officers opened fire on the father-of-one in what the police union described as a 'textbook' shooting, which was fatal.
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Ashley Fildes, 34, was gunned down by police after stabbing seven shopper at South Hedland shopping centre in Western Australia on Friday
In a statement to 7NEWS on Monday Fildes' parents said their thoughts were with the victims and their families.
'Our sympathy goes out to everyone in Hedland and all the victims, especially the man still in hospital,' the parents said.
'We hold no grudge against police.'
The father-of-one had been in an altercation with his boss just hours before the violent rampage, according to a distraught relative who did not want to be named.
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Fildes had been suffering from a 'deep depression', his marriage had fallen apart and the AAA Asphalt worker had an altercation with his supervisor on the morning of the attack.
Following the dispute, a colleague drove Fildes from the work site and dropped him at the Lodge Motel where he had been staying. It was there the father-of-one grabbed the long knife and began his violent attack.
He chased motel staff and other guests with the knife before stabbing his first victim.
The 34-year-old, wearing high-vis workwear, can be seen pacing through the South Hedland shopping centre in Western Australia on Friday brandishing a large kitchen knife
The violent rampage began at the Lodge Motel, where he was staying, before moving to the shopping centre
He then moved to the McDonald's car park at the shopping centre where he stabbed a man in a car, before continuing through the mall and to Kmart.
Dramatic footage showed Fildes, who was dressed in hi-vis workwear, pacing through the centre brandishing the large kitchen knife.
The attack ended when Fildes was shot dead by police.
Major crime detectives are investigating the rampage in which seven people were stabbed, including a woman pushing her child in a pram.
They will seek to determine if Fildes experienced a psychotic episode. They are also waiting on a toxicology report to see if illicit drugs were a factor.
Fildes, who is the father of a young girl, was on his first week of a new FIFO swing.
David Derschow (pictured, right) said his girlfriend Esther Brooks (left) were stabbed by the knifeman on Friday morning at a Western Australian shopping centre
Esther Brooks (pictured) shared shocking pictures of her wound with Daily Mail Australia, after being stabbed in the back by a crazed stranger
His marriage had broken down in recent years and he suffered from depression.
A relative told The West Australian Fildes was a 'beautiful, beautiful soul' and the violent rampage was out-of-character.
'He's just not that kind of person. He's just mellow and lovely. I know he had a lot of trauma in his life. The last few years have been really tough for him, but he's not a violent person,' she said.
'There is just no way on this earth that Ashley could do something like this. He doesn't hurt people — he helps people.
'He was deeply depressed but never ever in my wildest dreams would I ever think he would hurt another human being.'
The stabbing rampage took place in South Hedland in northern Western Australia (pictured)
Pilbara district superintendent Kim Massam declined to comment on any potential motive for the attack or whether the offender had a history of drug use or mental health issues.
He said social media videos, as well as footage captured on CCTV and on police body-worn cameras, would form a key part of the investigation.
Up to 60 witnesses could be interviewed.
'Those statements will be detailed,' Supt Massam said.
'They are there on behalf of our investigation for the coroner. The coroner will expect a thorough and intrusive investigation is undertaken in relation to the matter.
'I think we'll have a significant contingent of police officers and support staff in Hedland for the majority of this coming week.'
