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Police tape at the crime scene Sunday. (file photo/paNOW Staff)
triple homicide

P.A. multiple homicides: Police not revealing suspect details

Mar 30, 2020 | 5:28 PM

Calling it horrific and incomprehensible, the chief of the Prince Albert Police Service (PAPS) says an investigation is underway into the killing of three people in the city Sunday night.

A seven-year-old-boy, along with a man and woman – both aged 56 – were found murdered in a MacArthur Drive home. Also, a five-year-old girl is in an Edmonton hospital in critical condition.

But Chief Jonathan Bergen was vague on details when he spoke to the media via an online conference Monday afternoon, and would not offer information on a suspect, including if they were still alive or dead.

“We’ve been examining a great detail of evidence that has led us to information that we understand where we need to go next,” Bergen said.

Earlier Monday, PAPS issued a media release confirming the triple homicide and that they did not believe this to be a random incident nor did they believe there was a risk to public safety.

Bergen was asked how that public assurance could be given if police would not divulge any information regarding a suspect.

“With what we’ve learned so far, with what we’ve observed… we’re comfortable in making that statement right now to the public that we don’t believe there is any more risk to the community,” he said.

Bergen would not divulge the relationship between the deceased adults and child, “out of respect to the family” and would not disclose the manner in which the three died.

“There’s a lot to process here; it’s a tragedy that is unimaginable for the community, our staff and definitely the family of the love ones,” Bergen said.

He acknowledged there was all sorts of speculation already in the community via social media but stressed “there is speculation from our perspective [too, but] we’re examining the evidence to make sure the answers we do bring are arrived at from the evidence collected.”

He said PAPS would offer a further update to the community tomorrow.

A GoFundMe donation page was set up for the mother of the children.

glenn.hicks@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princealbertnow

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