Man shot dead by police in Potts Point identified as celeb dentist

A man shot dead by police after he allegedly assaulted two women and threatened officers in Sydney’s Potts Point has been identified as former celebrity dentist Dr Steven Lin.

The 41-year-old disgraced Central Coast dentist was shot dead by police on Tuesday after he allegedly attacked attacked two women in an apartment on St Neot Ave, just 10 minutes from the Sydney CBD.

Police were called to the apartment about 10.50am following reports a man armed with a knife had entered an apartment complex and attacked two women.

Police fired tasers which were ineffective against the man, who was then shot by an officer and died.

Today, the Daily Telegraph identified the man as Dr Lin.

Once a world-renowned dental nutritionist, he fell into an ice addiction in recent years following the breakdown of his marriage as it emerged that he had fathered a child in secret.

Dr Lin also once owned two thriving dentist practices on the NSW Central Coast and wrote the best-selling book The Dental Diet.

“As a passionate preventative, whole health-advocate, Dr Lin focuses on the understanding of dental disease through nutritional principles,” his website states. “His work has highlighted that crooked teeth and the orthodontia epidemic are diet based problems and the need for public health policy to prevent braces in the next generation of children.”

He most recent social media post was on February 23 when he shared a video of a US man who believed that all vaccines should be avoided for children.

“Just needs to be said,” Dr Lin captioned the clip.

Days before his death, Dr Lin faced Wollongong Local Court charged over allegations he choked and assaulted a sex worker and stole $2000 from her in March 2025.

According to The Daily Telegraph, the charges were dismissed after the complainant did not appear in court.

The court was told that at the time of the alleged incident, Dr Lin had recorded four breaches of bail, two assault matters and two choking-related offences.

Court documents also alleged he had multiple breaches of apprehended violence orders, as well as stalk/intimidate offences, and described him as having shown violent behaviour towards women and disregard for court-imposed conditions.

NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna told reporters Dr Lin died shortly after being shot on Tuesday.

“The male was sighted, we will allege, with a knife and threatened police. A taser was deployed (but) it was ineffective,” Assistant Commissioner McKenna said.

“Upon confronting police, one round was discharged by a police officer.

“The man was sometime later confirmed deceased at the scene.”

Assistant Commissioner McKenna said the two women were not known to the offender.

One is being treated in hospital for head and facial injuries.

“A male allegedly assaulted two females from two separate units, we believe at this point in time,” Assistant Commissioner McKenna said.

“Both have been taken to hospital, one with more significant injuries than the other but believed not to be life threatening.

“One (woman) have injuries that would be consistent with being assaulted with a weapon, the other’s injuries are consistent with blunt force trauma.”

Several emergency vehicles cordoned off St Neot Ave after the incident.

A local man told Sky News he was sitting by the pool when he heard a woman cry for help followed by police sirens.

“He was trying to jump out the window,” the man said.

“(I heard) taser shots and then they have dragged him away, then next minute I heard some gunshots.

“I saw him on the floor, pretty much lifeless while they were trying to do CPR.”