Crystal Brook stabber Sean Ferris struggled with mental health, owned homemade axes, knives, says friend

The dead Crystal Brook man who stabbed two police officers owned knives and axes – and while he “warranted being shot”, the attack could have been avoided, his mate says.

• How the Crystal Brook stabbing unfolded

Crystal Brook resident David Wallace was the last person to see Sean Ferris alive and knew about the vast range of weaponry he had stowed away in his home.

Knives, swords, axes and bow and arrows. This was the arsenal a crazed man had built up through an inheritance from his father and an obsession with building weaponry.

It was a “hobby” for Mr Ferris. A hobby that would ultimately cost him his life and land two police officers in hospital with serious injuries.

“He had a lot of homemade weaponry … he’s got axes – a lot that were handed down from his father – swords and different older things,” he said.

The backyard of Sean Ferris’ home, who was fatally shot by police after he stabbed them outside his Symons St, Crystal Brook house. Picture: Brenton Edwards

David Wallace, a friend of Sean Ferris, with Sean’s dog Buddy. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Mr Wallace was talking to Mr Ferris at the Symons St address just moments before police arrived to discuss a disturbance that occurred in town a day earlier.

Mr Wallace said as Brevet Sergeants Todd and Allely were arriving, Mr Ferris returned inside his property.

“He was actually talking to me about how he was being harassed about his dog and that police might arrive, and about five seconds after they did,” he said.

“Sean went inside his property and all I could hear was him yelling at them to leave him alone.”

Mr Wallace used to visit Mr Ferris regularly with his son.

The pair would have dinner together and talk about life. While Mr Ferris kept to himself for the most part, Mr Wallace was one of his few very close friends.

“He would cook us dinner, my boy would go on the internet at Sean’s, he was a genuinely good person,” he said.

“He’s just a homebody with his dog, he might rattle on a bit behind closed doors, but that’s it.”

But Mr Wallace knew he was unstable, battling mental health issues that were escalating due to the complaints about his dog’s behaviour.

He conceded Mr Ferris’ actions “warranted being shot” and that his friend had an “angst towards police.”

One of two police officers stabbed at Crystal Brook is out of hospital, while the Police Commissioner has thanked the brave bystander who helped save their lives. Latest: https://t.co/9bSrKOGxGI#TheAdvertiserpic.twitter.com/APwHVRiG1I

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A neighbour across the street – who did not wish to be named – said he was woken by the sirens of police and ambulance officers arriving at the scene on Wednesday.

He opened the door of his property to see two officers lying on the footpath receiving medical attention after being stabbed by Mr Ferris.

“I expected it because of the number of times the police would come to that property,” he said. “I feel for the police officers because they were just doing their job.”