Richmond homicide victims were family members

Four people who were found dead in a Richmond home this week were members of the same family.

Homicide investigators have confirmed the shooting victims were two men and two women, though they have not confirmed their relationships to each other.

Police discovered the bodies at the duplex on Garden City Road near Alderbridge Way Tuesday night, though they believe they died Monday night at about 7 p.m.

“We were able to confirm the identities of the victims, but we’re withholding the names at this time, pending next of kin notification,” said Sgt. David Lee with IHIT, adding they have no gang ties.

When asked whether this is a case of a murder-suicide, police say it’s too early to say.

“We’re determining exactly what the role is of all persons involved. But right now, we can confirm that the shooter is not at large and is someone inside the residence,” Lee said.

“There are other mechanisms that this could occur and we’re still determining exactly how that transpired.”

Read more: Four dead in Richmond duplex homicide

However, he said they are not looking at a case of intimate partner violence.

“Based on evidence collected team and other information we have, we have determined that all persons involved in and responsible for the homicide have been accounted for,” Lee said, adding investigators have not yet determined a motive.

People living in the neighbourhood are left shaken by what happened.

“To lose those lives in one night, it’s very sad. Not only for the family, even for us as neighbours,” Cornelius Kiptom told CityNews.

He says he was shocked to hear about the deaths, adding in the four years he’s lived next door, he’s never heard or seen anything suspicious. Kiptom remembers the neighbourhood as being quiet and friendly before the shooting.

“They are good people, always they have been good people,” he said of the people he believes lived in the duplex next door.

“Never had any issues. Any time you’d go, you’d walk in the back streets, you could hear them playing pool, the cracking sound of the balls when they were shooting pool. No incident has ever happened.”

IHIT has urged anyone who may have been in the area of Garden City Road near Odlin and Leslie roads Monday night to get in touch.

“It’s a quiet area. They know who belongs there. So as this event unfolds, and in the future, if they see people that don’t belong, vehicles that are just driving around, is always best to call us … and not wait till a day later,” Lee said Wednesday.

You can contact IHIT with any information at 1.877.551.IHIT (4448) or email ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.