New South Wales (NSW) police commissioner Karen Webb said four women and a man died at the shopping mall, while another woman passed away at the hospital.
She said that eight people are currently being treated for different injuries in hospitals around Sydney, including a nine-month-old infant who has been in surgery.
The suspect - who police said acted alone - was shot dead at the scene by a lone officer.
“She discharged her firearm, and that person is now deceased,” Cooke said.
Webb told reporters that current elements do not point to a terror motive, but said that the investigation will be ongoing “for many many days” and that it is “too early to say” what was behind the attack.
According to Webb, police believe that the suspect was a 40-year-old man but as background checks remain ongoing, she could not provide further identification details.