07 March 2024 , 11:55
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Six people including four children have been found dead at home as police launch a "tragic and complex" investigation.
The shocking incident unfolded in the Barrhaven area of the Canadian capital of Ottawa with police called to the scene just before 11pm, local time. Febrio De-Zoysa, a Sri Lankan national, was charged with six counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder after a mum and her four children including a baby, and a family acquaintance, were killed in Barrhaven on Wednesday night.
The children's father, Dhanushka Wickramasinghe, was injured and is currently in hospital in a stable condition. De-Zoysa is a 19-year-old student who was living with the Sri Lankan family while studying overseas, it has been revealed.
Police say they have never come across the suspect or the family before. De-Zoysa was arrested about nine miles south of Ottawa's downtown district.
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The Wickramasinghe family were slaughtered - including a mum and her babyThose who tragically lost their lives in the slaughter in Ottawa, Barrhaven, include: mother Darshani Banbaranayake Gama Walwwe Darshani Dilanthika Ekanyake, 35 years old, and her children seven-year-old boy Inuka Wickramasinghe, four-year-old girl Ashwini Wickramasinghe, two-year-old Rinyana Wickramasinghe, and little Kelly, aged just two and a half months. The sixth victim was 40-year-old Ge Gamini Amarakoon, who was described by local media as a family acquaintance.
Family acquaintance Amarakoonmubiayansela Ge Gemini Amarakoon, 40, who had recently arrived from Sri Lanka, was also killed. Amarkoon also lived in the home.
"There is no ongoing threat to public safety," Ottawa police say. One person has also been taken to an Ottawa hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
An update from the police read: "The Ottawa Police Service Homicide Unit is investigating the deaths of six people who were found at an address on Berrigan Drive just before 11 p.m. last night. One person has been arrested, and there is no ongoing threat to public safety.
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The otherwise-quiet street where the six bodies were found (Google)"Police responded to 9-1-1 calls received at 10:52 p.m. and located the six deceased – four children and two adults -- inside the Barrhaven area residence. Identities of the deceased have not been confirmed at this time. This is a tragic and complex investigation, and investigative teams remain on Berrigan Drive."
Ottawa Police Chief Eric Stubbs has said the force cannot comment on the relationship, if any, between victims and suspect, but said investigators do not think it is a case of intimate partner violence. Speaking on CBC Radio's Ottawa Morning he said: "This is a tragic file... and it will greatly impact the city of Ottawa, let alone the immediate neighbourhood in Barrhaven. So obviously we encourage everybody to reach out and get help to help manage themselves through this traumatic event."
Police vehicles were parked outside a townhouse on Berrigan Drive with a large cordon blocking access to the back of the homes.
Anyone with information is being urged to call the Ottawa police homicide unit at 613-236-1222, ext. 5493. Anonymous tips can be made to Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477, or at crimestoppers.ca.
The mayor of Ottowa, Mark Sutcliffe, said: "I was devastated to learn of the multiple homicide in Barrhaven, one of the most shocking incidents of violence in our city's history. We are proud to live in a safe community but this news is distressing to all Ottawa residents.
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"Ginny and I are thinking of the family members and neighbours of the victims. Thank you to our emergency responders who are investigating and supporting those who are affected by this terrible event."
Local Barrhaven resident David Brose rushed to the scene after hearing the news early on Thursday moring. He told CBC: "I'm obviously in shock... it's tough. I'm just in awe. I can't believe it."
A media update from Ottowa police is expected later today.