Four kids and two grown-ups died at a house in the Barrhaven suburb of Ottawa, according to the Ottawa police.
The police found six people dead in a two-story house on Berrigan Drive late Wednesday night. The police came after getting emergency calls at around 11 p. m
One person has been taken into custody by the police. “Ottawa police say there is no danger to the public right now. ”
Ottawa Police Chief Eric Stubbs said to the media that investigators don’t think the murder is a case of domestic violence or intimate partner violence. The people who were hurt are a 35-year-old woman named Darshani Banbaranayake, and her four kids: 7-year-old Inuka, 4-year-old Ashwini, 2-year-old Rinyana, and two-month-old Kelly.
A 40-year-old man named Gamini Amarakoon was found dead at the house. He was the sixth person to be found dead there.
Stubbs said that Amarakoonmubiayansela Ge Gamini Amarakoon was a friend of the family and has been staying at their house.
The woman’s husband, Dhanushka Wickramasinghe, is still in the hospital with bad injuries. He is doing okay.
“Police found that a sharp weapon was used to hurt and kill people,” Stubbs said. Let me make this clear, many people were killed, it was not just a shooting.
De-Zoysa went to court on Thursday afternoon without a lawyer. He had a lawyer appointed to help him.
The police think De-Zoysa is from Sri Lanka and studying in Canada. A person who speaks for Algonquin College told CTV News Ottawa that he went to classes there. “The college said he was last in school in Winter 2023. ”
The college boss, Claude Brulé, said he is sorry.
“Algonquin College is sad for our community after hearing about the horrible news of the six people who were killed in Barrhaven yesterday,” he wrote. “This news is very surprising and sad for our city and community. ” Let’s remember the two adults and four children who died. We also want to send our thoughts and support to their family and friends.
Stubbs says the suspect is a friend of the family and was staying in the house.
“We understand that there are many questions about why this terrible thing happened, and our Homicide Unit is working hard to figure it out,” Stubbs said. “Our investigators and forensic teams are working really hard to find out the truth and make sure the right thing happens. ”
A lot of police cars were outside a house on Berrigan Drive on Thursday morning. Yellow tape from the police was blocking the way to the back of the homes.
Shanti Ramesh told CTV News that it is sad that a big tragedy happened on our street, especially with kids involved.
Ramesh saw police and paramedics last night, but didn’t hear anything.
“A man sat on the left side of the driveway and shouted loudly. ”
At 9 a. m, detectives started taking things out of the house and putting them into a van parked in the driveway. The police covered the front door with a white sheet so no one could see inside.
“Everyone in the neighborhood can’t believe it,” said Ahmed Saed to The Canadian Press.
The Sri Lankan High Commission says they didn’t have any information about the suspect, but their staff helped the police tell the suspect’s family in Sri Lanka.
Febrio De-Zoysa, who is 19 years old, has been charged with six counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder. He cannot talk to five people, including the husband and father who is still alive.
A place to remember the victims has been set up at Palmadeo Park. It’s at the corner of Palmadeo Drive and Rodeo Drive. The police want people to stay away from the area on Berrigan Drive where a crime happened so they can look into it.
The Ottawa Catholic School Board says that two of the people who were hurt went to Monsignor Paul Baxter School in Barrhaven. Inuka was in second grade, and Ashwini was in junior kindergarten.
“We are very sorry for the families and loved ones of the victims during this very difficult time. ” “We can’t even imagine how much they must be hurting,” Principal Vincenza Nicoletti wrote in a letter to parents.
“We are a small Catholic school community and we are here to help each other. ” Students and staff who are sad and upset about this sad event can get help from counselors and support services for as long as they need. Our main focus is to make sure that everyone gets the help and support they require.
Nicoletti said the school didn’t tell students about the deaths.
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board said that even though none of the kids went to their schools, the incident really affected the community.
We are sorry for what happened in Barrhaven. Our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected by this tragic event. More people from the mental health team at OCDSB are helping schools in the area. The teachers will be very caring and understanding towards the students’ needs right now.
Mayor Mark Sutcliffe wrote on social media that the deaths of six people were one of the most shocking acts of violence in our city’s history.
“I was very upset to hear about the murders in Barrhaven,” Sutcliffe said.
We are happy to live in a safe neighborhood, but this news is upsetting for everyone in Ottawa. Ginny and I are thinking about the family and neighbors of the people who were hurt. Thank you to the people who help in emergencies. They are looking into and helping those affected by this awful event.
During an interview on CTV Morning Live, Mayor Sutcliffe said he was very surprised and sad to hear that six people were killed in the city.
“It’s really concerning and I feel sorry for the family and neighbors in Barrhaven who must be upset by these events,” Sutcliffe said.
“The police are helping the neighbors and the family. ”
Sutcliffe said on CTV News at Six that he is thinking about the father.
Tonight, I’m thinking about a man in Ottawa who is in the hospital. He is young and he lost his wife and all four of his young children. I can’t imagine what he must be feeling, and I feel really sorry for him and his loved ones.
Sutcliffe said he will have a quiet moment on Friday morning.
The city councilor for Barrhaven East, Wilson Lo expressed his sadness about the deaths of six people in Barrhaven last night.
I care about their family and people nearby. Police have someone in custody and will do a careful investigation. I am sure they will keep us safe.
Premier Doug Ford says he feels very sad about the mass killings in Ottawa.
“I am thinking of the family and friends of the six victims and the whole Ottawa community who are struggling with this terrible tragedy,” Ford posted on Twitter.
Nepean MPP Lisa Macleod wrote on social media that her community is feeling shocked and sad because six people, including four children, were killed.
“We are very sad for the family, friends, and playmates of the person who died. It is hard to put into words how we feel. ” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau talked to reporters about the murder.
Trudeau said that we were all shocked and horrified by the terrible violence. We hope the community will help each other, and we expect the police to keep us updated on the tragedy.
Pierre Poilievre, who leads the Conservative Party and represents Carleton in Parliament, feels very sad to hear about the six deaths in Ottawa.
“I am thinking of the families of the victims and the whole community who are sad about this terrible loss. ”
The crime scene on Berrigan Drive is near Berrigan Elementary School and Longfields-Davidson Heights Secondary School, just off of Longfields Drive. The Monsignor Paul Baxter School is also close by.
Police said the investigation on Berrigan Drive is sad and complicated, and the investigative teams are still there.
Barrhaven is a neighborhood outside of Ottawa, about 25 minutes drive from downtown.
If you know anything, please call the Ottawa Police Homicide Unit at 613-236-1222 extension. The number 5493.