The family from Sri Lanka had recently moved to Canada, police say. Febrio De-Zoysa, 19, is charged with six counts of first-degree murder in the case. Police say he’s a family member of the victims.
A 19-year-old Sri Lankan native living in Ontario has been charged in the stabbing death of six people in the home they lived in together, including a 2 1/2-month-old girl and three other young children, police said.
Febrio De-Zoysa, who is believed to be in Canada as a student, was charged with six counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder, Ottawa police said Thursday in a post on X.
De-Zoysa is accused of using an “edged weapon” to kill members of the family who are “newcomers to Canada and are originally from Sri Lanka,” Chief Eric Stubbs said in a news release.
De-Zoysa was identified as a suspect and quickly arrested without incident, he said.
De-Zoysa appeared in court briefly on Thursday and “mumbled his assent” as the justice of the peace prohibited him from speaking to the surviving father or the four other witnesses who provided statements to the Ottawa police, the Associated Press reported.
His case was adjourned until March 13 to give him time to find a lawyer, according to the AP.
Family killed included mom, baby, 3 children
The dead include the 2 1/2-month-old girl, a 2-year-old girl, a 4-year-old girl, a 7-year-old boy and their 35-year-old mother, named Darshani Banbaranayake Gama Walwwe Darshani Dilanthika Ekanyake, Stubbs said. Her husband also was injured, and was taken to the hospital and was in stable condition, according to the Ottawa police.
A 40-year-old man named Amarakoonmubiayansela Ge Gamini Amarakoon was also found dead in the home, according to the chief.
Sri Lanka’s high commission said it is in contact with relatives in the country’s capital of Colombo, the AP reported.
“I want to emphasize that this was a senseless act of violence perpetrated on purely innocent people,” Stubbs said. “I know our whole community is shocked and mourning this event. I want to offer my condolences to the loved ones of all of the victims for this unimaginable loss.”
Mass killing ‘so devastating,’ Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe says
Stubbs said a vigil has been established in honor and memory of the family at the Palmadeo Park in Windsor, Ontario.
“This will undoubtedly weigh on the hearts of everyone for a very long time,” the chief said.
While speaking to CTV News and other media, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said: “Our first reactions are all ones of shock and horror at this terrible violence.”
“We are expecting that the community reaches out to support families and friends as Canadians always do,” Trudeau said.
Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe told CTV news the situation is “heartbreaking.”
“As a father and as a mayor of my hometown, it’s just so devastating to hear about the loss of life, including the children who died,” Sutcliffe told the TV station. “It’s very difficult to process this news and understand what happened and I think everyone is in shock and disbelief.”
Sutcliffe said the Barrhaven suburb where the killings occurred is known to be “peaceful, quiet and tranquil,” which makes the situation even more troubling.
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