Ottawa, Canada – A tragic scene unfolded in a suburban Ottawa neighborhood, where a mother, her four young children, and a family friend were found dead outside a home, their bodies covered in blood. The incident, described as one of the worst mass killings in the city, involved a 19-year-old international student named Febrio De-Zoysa, who faces six charges of first-degree murder.
Police Chief Eric Stubbs called the attack a “senseless act of violence” against innocent victims, revealing that a knife or other edged weapon was used in the assault. In addition to the deaths, the family’s father was also injured, surviving the attack with serious but non-life-threatening wounds. De-Zoysa appeared in court, where he was ordered not to communicate with the hospitalized father or other witnesses.
The victims, including the mother Darshani Ekanyake, her son, and three daughters, were new to the country and confirmed as Sri Lankan nationals. Another Sri Lankan family friend, Amarakoonmubiayansela Ge Gemini Amarakoon, was also among those killed. The surviving father, Dhanushka Wickramasinghe, revealed details of the harrowing attack, recounting the horror he faced upon returning home from work.
Neighbors in the Barrhaven community expressed shock and horror at the tragedy, with forensic investigators and police processing the crime scene. As the investigation unfolds, residents have come together to mourn the loss of life and seek answers to the tragedy. Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe reassured the community that Barrhaven and the city remain safe and welcoming places, despite the tragic events.