Who was Steven Lin? Police identify celebrity dentist shot dead after allegedly attacking two women with a knife in Sydney

A celebrity dentist has been shot dead by police after allegedly attacking two women with a knife inside an eastern suburbs apartment building in Sydney on Tuesday morning, March 3. Police identified the man as Steven Lin, also known as Dr Steven Lin. According to ABC News, Lin died after being shot during a tense stand-off with police in Potts Point.

Police allege Dr Lin entered an apartment building on St Neot Avenue armed with a knife before assaulting two women, one in a shared laundry room and another inside her unit. Both women sustained serious injuries to their face and head and were transported to St Vincent's Hospital, where they were reported to be in stable condition.

Officers arrived at the scene shortly after the alleged attacks and were confronted by the 42-year-old. Police said a taser was deployed but was not effective. Lin then allegedly threatened officers while still armed with the knife before police shot him once. He died at the scene, the outlet reported.


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Who was Dr. Steven Lin

Dr Steven Lin was a former principal of Helix Dentistry on the Central Coast and had a significant social media presence, with around 250,000 Instagram followers. He regularly posted online until mid-2024. As reported by The Age, Lin’s family previously said he had entered a methamphetamine-induced downward spiral around that time. It remains unclear whether drugs played a role in Tuesday’s incident

Lin also hosted a podcast titled Mouth Brain Connection, according to his Instagram profile. His drug use reportedly escalated following his separation from his wife, Cassandra, in early 2024, after which he ceased involvement with Helix Dentistry.

ABC News noted that Dr Lin had been facing multiple domestic violence-related charges, including assault occasioning bodily harm, breaching an apprehended violence order (AVO), stalking or intimidation with intent to cause fear, and choking.

What else we know about Dr Steven Lin

Steven Lin was a trained dentist with qualifications from the University of Sydney and the University of Wollongong. He built an international profile as a functional dentist, author and speaker, focusing on the links between nutrition, dental health and overall well-being, as per his webpage.

Lin was the author of The Dental Diet, an international bestseller published across multiple countries, including the US, UK and Australia. His work argued that modern dental issues such as crooked teeth and widespread orthodontic treatment were largely driven by dietary and nutritional factors rather than genetics alone.

According to his professional biography, his research and views were featured in some renowned Australian outlets, and he regularly contributed to other wellness platforms. He also appeared on some of the well-known US television networks.

Lin founded and led The Helix Group, which promoted a holistic approach to dental and preventative healthcare. He also hosted a podcast titled Mouth Brain Connection, where he discussed links between oral health, diet and chronic disease.