Barrhaven residents and members of Ottawa’s Sri Lankan neighborhood say they’re struggling to course of the horrific mass killing of 4 younger kids, their mom and a household acquaintance.
Their our bodies have been discovered of their residence in Barrhaven, about 15 kilometres south of Ottawa’s downtown core, on Wednesday night time.
Solely the kids’s father survived. He was injured within the assault with an edged weapon and was taken to hospital.
“We’re all shocked, little doubt about that,” stated Bhante Suneetha, who met the household at a neighborhood Buddhist monastery, and described them as candy and type.
“In my life, I haven’t heard of such a tragic second in our neighborhood.”
Into the night time, dozens of residents moved by what occurred streamed silently right into a darkish tree-lined park two blocks away from the townhouse.
They lit candles and dropped off flowers and stuffed animals at a makeshift memorial.
On Thursday, police stated the household have been newcomers to Canada from Sri Lanka.
Dhanushka Wickramasinghe is the injured father.
His spouse, 35-year-old Darshani Dilanthika Ekanayake, was killed together with the couple’s 4 younger kids — daughters Kelly, who was two months outdated; Ranaya, 3; and Ashwini, 4 — and son Inuka, 7.
Accused was residing with household
The physique of one other man, 40-year-old Gamini Amarakoon, was additionally discovered on the scene. Each he and the accused have been residing with the household, police stated.
Febrio De-Zoysa, 19, is now dealing with six first-degree homicide prices and one rely of tried homicide.
He was arrested on the residence.
Nixsala Antony, who attended the casual memorial on the park close to the crime scene, is from Sri Lanka however doesn’t know the household. She stated she was “startled” when she heard the information and nonetheless feels discomfort.
“They in all probability had loads of hopes and goals,” Antony stated. “It’s actually unhappy.”
Household described as ‘form,’ ‘harmless’
Suneetha, a resident monk and director of the Hilda Jayewardenaramaya Buddhist Monastery on Heron Street, stated the household got here to his temple for occasions and helped out.
“They’re harmless and in addition very useful folks. It doesn’t matter [who would ask] for assist from them.”
He visited the daddy, Dhanushka, on the hospital on Thursday morning. A part of one in every of Dhanushka’s fingers was minimize off and one other finger was repaired with surgical procedure, Suneetha stated. He additionally has cuts on his face, chest and again.
“I can’t say he’s doing effectively, however he’s a little bit bit stronger than we thought,” Suneetha stated.
“Mentally, he’s in nice shock.”
Dhanushka’s household had solely been in Canada for a few 12 months, in accordance with Suneetha. Dhanushka arrived first in 2020 after finishing his schooling and getting a piece allow.
Final 12 months, Suneetha stated, Ekanayake and their three kids joined him. She was pregnant.
A consultant of Uber confirmed Dhanushka was a driver for them. Suneetha stated Dhanushka had additionally opened a cleansing enterprise.
Hilal Ahmed, an accountant, stated he was contacted by Dhanushka final month for bookkeeping providers.
Ahmed discovered Dhanushka to be very well mannered and accommodating. He known as the scenario tragic.
What we all know in regards to the suspect
De-Zoysa got here to Canada from Sri Lanka as a world pupil, police stated.
On Thursday night, Algonquin School president Claude Brulé confirmed De-Zoysa had been a pupil there.
The teenager’s final semester of attendance was the winter of 2023, Brulé’s assertion stated.
Ottawa police chief Eric Stubbs stated Thursday that an “edged weapon” was used within the homicides.
De-Zoysa made his first court docket look Thursday afternoon.
He’s due again in court docket on March 14.
Vigil deliberate for Saturday morning
“Little children — they didn’t do something for this,” stated Shanti Ramesh, who lives throughout the road from the townhouse the place the killings occurred.
“They arrive into the world to present one thing again and this occurs? It’s horrible.”
Hilda Jayewardenaramaya Buddhist Monastery stated it’s elevating donations for the victims’ households.
A candlelight vigil is scheduled Saturday at 11 a.m. in Palmadeo Park, the identical park the place Thursday’s makeshift memorial was arrange.
Funerals will likely be deliberate at a later date.
“It is going to take time for us to digest all this,” Ramesh stated.
“Will probably be there perpetually, really.”
This text is from from cbc.ca (CBC NEWS CANADA)