6 dead including 4 children in Ottawa mass killing

Late Wednesday night, tragedy struck a townhouse in Barrhaven, South Ottawa, claiming the lives of six individuals: a mother, her four young children, and a family acquaintance. According to Ottawa police Chief Eric Stubbs, two 911 calls were made around 10:52 p.m. that night, prompting swift response from first responders to the home on Berrigan Drive, located near Palmadeo Drive, close to two schools.

The victims were identified as a family of newcomers to Canada from Sri Lanka: 35-year-old Darshani Banbaranayake Gama Walwwe Darshani Dilanthika Ekanayake, along with her children Inuka Wickramasinghe (7 years old), Ashwini Wickramasinghe (4 years old), Rinyana Wickramasinghe (2 years old), and Kelly Wickramasinghe (2 months old). Ekanayake's husband, Dhanushka Wickramasinghe, survived the attack and is currently hospitalized in stable condition. Additionally, another man, 40-year-old Amarakoonmubiayansela Ge Gamini Amarakoon, was among the victims.

The suspect, 19-year-old Febrio De-Zoysa, a Sri Lankan national believed to be in Canada as a student, has been charged with six counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder. De-Zoysa, who was acquainted with the family and was living in the home at the time, was arrested at the scene.

In a statement, Algonquin College president Claude Brulé confirmed that De-Zoysa was a student at the college, noting that his last semester of attendance was Winter 2023. De-Zoysa made his first court appearance, where he was ordered not to contact five people, including Dhanushka Wickramasinghe. His next court appearance is scheduled for March 14.

Police emphasized that there is no ongoing risk to public safety, and the incident is being treated as the worst mass killing in Ottawa's recent history. While the motive remains unclear, Chief Stubbs described the killings as "a senseless act of violence perpetrated on purely innocent people," extending condolences to the victims' families.

The Ottawa Catholic School Board confirmed that two of the children attended Monsignor Paul Baxter School, offering grief counseling and crisis support to students and staff affected by the tragedy.

Residents of the neighborhood, like Shanti Ramesh, expressed shock and disbelief upon learning of the incident, emphasizing the impact on the community. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe also conveyed their sadness and called for support for the affected families.

As investigations continue, the community grapples with the incomprehensible loss of lives, particularly of innocent children, in what has been described as a devastating event.