OTTAWA, Canada – A tragic scene unfolded outside a suburban Ottawa home where a mother, her four young children, and a family friend were found dead after a brutal and inexplicable attack. The sidewalk was stained with blood on Thursday as the aftermath of the vicious incident shocked the community.
Nineteen-year-old international student Febrio De-Zoysa faces six charges of first-degree murder in what Ottawa police described as possibly the city’s worst mass killing. Police Chief Eric Stubbs called it a “senseless act of violence” carried out on innocent individuals.
The victims included the mother, Darshani Ekanyake, 35, her seven-year-old son, Inuka Wickramasinghe, and her three daughters: Ashwini, 4; two-year-old Rinyana; and two-and-a-half-month-old Kelly, born in Canada. Additionally, 40-year-old family friend Amarakoonmubiayansela Ge Gemini Amarakoon was also killed in the attack.
The family, originally from Sri Lanka, had recently moved to Canada, making them new arrivals in the country. The father, Dhanushka Wickramasinghe, survived the attack and remained hospitalized with severe but non-life-threatening injuries.
An emotional court appearance saw De-Zoysa facing the charges, including attempted murder of the father. The accused mumbled his assent in court, while the justice of the peace ordered him not to contact the hospitalized father or other witnesses.
The community was left reeling from the tragedy, with neighbors and residents expressing shock and dismay at the horrific event. The police presence was heavy as forensic investigators worked at the crime scene, gathering evidence and processing the area.
As details emerged about the victims and the accused, the city tried to come to terms with the senseless violence that had shattered the lives of a family and their friend. The impact of the incident was felt throughout the neighborhood, prompting an outpouring of support and a vigil to honor the memory of those lost.
The investigation is ongoing, with authorities working diligently to uncover the motives behind the attack and ensure justice is served for the victims. The tragic events in Barrhaven serve as a stark reminder of the fragility of life and the devastation that violence can bring to a community.