College Student Accused of Killing 6 People, Including 4 Young Children

A college student in Canada was arrested and charged with six counts of murder after he allegedly killed six people, including a mother and her four young children, the Ottawa Police Service says.

The student, identified in reports from the CBC, Reuters and NBC as Febrio De-Zoysa, 19, is believed by police to be a Sri Lankan national studying in Canada. 

The six victims, who were also from Sri Lanka, were identified as 35-year old mother Darshani Banbaranayake Gama Walwwe Darshani Dilanthika Ekanyake; her four children Inuka Wickramasinghe, 7, Ashwini Wickramasinghe, 4, Rinyana Wickramasinghe, 2. and 2-month-old Kelly Wickramasinghe; and Amarakoonmubiayansela Ge Gamini Amarakoon, 40, an acquaintance of the family living in the home.

Police say an “edged weapon” was used in the killings. De-Zoysa was also charged with one count of attempted murder, police say.

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The CBC reported that the suspect appeared in court Thursday and will next appear on March 14. It is not immediately clear if he entered a plea. The outlet also reported that police say De-Zoysa was living in the home with the family.

“I was devastated to learn of the multiple homicide in Barrhaven, one of the most shocking incidents of violence in our city's history,” Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said in a post on X. “We are proud to live in a safe community but this news is distressing to all Ottawa residents.”