Vigil to be held Saturday remembering victims of mass killing in Barrhaven

Published Mar 08, 2024 • Last updated 1 hour ago • 1 minute read

A memorial continues to grow at Palmadeo Park in Barrhaven, dedicated to the six people, including four children, who were killed at a home a in Barrhaven. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia

A candlelight vigil will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 9 at Palmadeo Park in remembrance of the six people killed late Wednesday night at a home on Berrigan Drive in the suburb of Barrhaven.

The victims were Darshani Dilanthika Ekanayake, 35, and her four children: Inuka Wickramasinghe, 7; Ashwini Wickramasinghe, 4; Ranyana Wickramasinghe, 3; and two-month-old Kelly Wickramasinghe; as well as their family friend, Gamini Amarakoon, 40, who had been living in the home.

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Ekanyake’s husband and the father of the children, Dhanushka Wickramasinghe, remained in serious but stable condition in hospital as of Thursday afternoon.

Nineteen-year-old international student Febrio De-Zoysa was arrested and charged with six counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder.

On Thursday, a memorial was held at Palmadeo Park where Barrhaven residents left flowers, stuffed animals and lit candles.

Fiona Bailey stopped by the memorial on her way home from work. She said if she hadn’t, it would continue to be on her mind.

“It’s the why, that’s the hardest part,” said Bailey. “What could have caused a 19-year-old to do something like that? Even if I heard why, I still couldn’t understand it.”

Christine Bellini has lived in Barrhaven for 35 years and raised her kids there. She had never seen anything like this.

“This is baffling,” Bellini said. “This has basically traumatized the whole community.”

A GoFundMe has been set up in support of the victims’ families.

PHOTO GALLERY

A memorial continues to grow outside of a home on Berrigan Drive in Barrhaven dedicated to the six people, including four children, who were found dead late Wednesday in the home. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia A memorial continues to grow at Palmadeo Park in Barrhaven dedicated to the six people, including four children, who were found dead late Wednesday at a home in Barrhaven. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia A memorial continues to grow outside of a home on Berrigan Drive in Barrhaven dedicated to the six people, including four children, who were found dead late Wednesday in the home. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia A memorial continues to grow outside of a home on Berrigan Drive in Barrhaven dedicated to the six people, including four children, who were found dead late Wednesday in the home. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia A memorial continues to grow at Palmadeo Park in Barrhaven dedicated to the six people, including four children, who were found dead late Wednesday at a home in Barrhaven. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia A memorial continues to grow at Palmadeo Park in Barrhaven dedicated to the six people, including four children, who were found dead late Wednesday at a home in Barrhaven. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia A memorial continues to grow at Palmadeo Park in Barrhaven dedicated to the six people, including four children, who were found dead late Wednesday at a home in Barrhaven. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia A person places a candle on the ground as they pay their respects at a vigil at Palmadeo Park near the scene where six people were killed in a mass stabbing in Barrhaven in Ottawa, on Thursday, March 7, 2024. Photo by Spencer Colby /Postmedia A young child places a stuffed toy at a vigil at Palmadeo Park near the scene where six people were killed in a mass stabbing in Barrhaven in Ottawa, on Thursday, March 7, 2024. Photo by Spencer Colby /Postmedia A person places a candle on the ground as they pay their respects at a vigil at Palmadeo Park near the scene where six people were killed in a mass stabbing in Barrhaven in Ottawa, on Thursday, March 7, 2024. Photo by Spencer Colby /Postmedia Flowers are placed Thursday outside the Barrhaven house where six people were killed and another was injured late Wednesday. Photo by Spencer Colby /Postmedia Candles are placed on the ground Thursday evening at the site of a vigil for the victims of the homicides in Barrhaven late Wednesday. Photo by Spencer Colby /Postmedia A child places flowers on a park table where flowers and teddy bears had been placed during a vigil for the six people killed. Photo by Adrian Wyld /The Canadian Press A person lays flowers on a table at Palmadeo Park near the scene where six people were killed in a mass killing in Barrhaven. Photo by Spencer Colby /Postmedia Julia Beales lays candles on a table at Palmadeo Park on Thursday, March 7, 2024. Photo by Spencer Colby /Postmedia Flowers are seen outside the house where six people were killed in a mass stabbing in Barrhaven in Ottawa. Photo by Spencer Colby /Postmedia