Family massacre suspect was student living with them while studying overseas

07 March 2024 , 23:27

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Forensics in the Barrhaven suburb of Ottawa, Canada, on Thursday morning (Image: Canadian Press/REX/Shutterstock)

The suspect behind the horrific murders of six people in a suburb of Ottawa in Canada is a 19-year-old student who was living with the Sri Lankan family while studying overseas, it has been revealed.

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, 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.

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.

Those 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.

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Four children and their mum from the Wickramasinghe family were killed

Police Chief Eric Stubbs described the massacre as "a senseless act of violence, perpetrated on purely innocent people." The police said in a statement: "The Ottawa Police Service Homicide Unit is investigating the deaths of six people who were found at an address on Berrigan Drive just before 11pm last night.

"One person has been arrested, and there is no ongoing threat to public safety. This is a tragic and complex investigation, and investigative teams remain on Berrigan Drive." Police confirmed Wednesday's homicides are considered the worst mass killing in the city's recent history.

Emergency services were called to the home late on Wednesday night (CTV News)

Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe called the news "devastating", adding: "While it will be difficult for many of us to go about our usual routines in the face of such tragedy, again there is no risk to the public. We are fortunate to live in a safe city where these events are extremely rare, but everyone understandably will react to this news today, and feel less safe and secure."

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also commented on the tragedy and said during a news conference: "Obviously our first reactions are all ones of shock and horror at this terrible violence. We are expecting that the community reaches out to support family and friends as Canadians always do, and we expect the police of jurisdiction to be doing the work and keeping us all informed of this terrible tragedy."

Flowers left in tribute to the victims of the tragedy (Canadian Press/REX/Shutterstock)

Local Barrhaven resident David Brose rushed to the scene after hearing the news early on Thursday morning. He said: "I'm obviously in shock... it's tough. I'm just in awe. I can't believe it."

Shanti Ramesh, who lives across the street from the home on Berrigan Drive, told CBC she was watching TV on Wednesday night when she saw the flashing lights of emergency services. When she went outside to investigate, she said she saw a man screaming.

Police during a press conference confirming details of the tragedy (Ottawa Police)

"I saw a guy was sitting on the driveway and yelling, and so the police came and then they took him away," she said. Police later identified the man as the father of the family, Dhanushka Wickramasinghe. They said he was injured and is currently in hospital in a stable condition.

Ms Ramesh said it was only the following morning that she realised a "major tragedy" had happened. She said: "It's horrible."

In a letter to parents sent out Thursday afternoon, the Ottawa Catholic School Board (OCSB) confirmed the two eldest children were students in Grade 2 and junior kindergarten at Monsignor Paul Baxter School. "Our deepest sympathies and sincerest condolences go to the families and loved ones of the victims during this incredibly challenging time. We cannot imagine the pain and sorrow they must be experiencing," wrote the school's principal Vincenza Nicoletti.

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The school said grief counselling and crisis support would be available for both students and staff. The letter read: "Given the sensitivity surrounding the event and the limited information provided to the school, we have chosen not to disclose details to the students at this time."

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.

Chiara Fiorillo