Four counts of first-degree murder have been laid against a 23-year-old man, believed to be of Bangladeshi origin, who was arrested at a home where three women and a man were found dead, Canadian police announced on Monday, according to Reuters.
The arrestee, Menhaz Zaman and the four victims are all of Bangladeshi origin, their next door neighbour confirmed The Daily Star through a message last night
Menhaz was taken into custody at the scene of the crime on Sunday, when York Regional Police (YRP) responded to a call shortly before 3 pm EDT to a residence in Markham, Ontario, 30 km (18.64 miles) south of Toronto, reports Reuters.
Some media houses have reported the four victims to be of Bangladeshi origin and all are thought to be from one family.
However, officials are yet to confirm the identities of the victims. The coroner’s report is expected within a couple of days, Pattenden told Reuters, after which police will release the identities of victims.
City News in Toronto reported that the four victims were family members of Zaman, but this has not been confirmed by police or the coroner’s office.
Ammara Riaz, a former tenant of the Zaman family, said she never would have expected the young man to be accused of such crimes, according to a news portal The Star.
Riaz, who rented one of two basement apartments in their home for about five to six years until she moved out last year, confirmed that the people living in the house were Moniruz Zaman, his wife Momotaz, their daughter Malesa and son Menhaz, as well as a grandmother whose name Riaz didn’t know. Riaz couldn’t confirm the spelling of the names, but she did confirm that a profile photo on the gaming site was that of Menhaz, she added.
“We do believe that the man we have in custody that’s now been charged is responsible for these murders,” Andy Pattenden, a media relations officer with the YRP, told reporters on Monday.
Upon arriving at the scene police found three women and one man dead. Police have declined to identify the deceased, or the cause of death.
Police are not searching for further tips on the case.
Zaman appeared in an Ontario courtroom on Monday and police said he is expected to reappear in court via video link on August 2.
