One person is in custody after two children were found dead in a vehicle in northwest Calgary on Thursday morning.
The Calgary Police Homicide Unit is investigating after a call came in around 10 a.m. Thursday, for an incident in the 4500 block of 14 Street NW, across from the Calgary Winter Club.
(Editor’s note: The Calgary police initially indicated it was the 4300 block of 14 Street NW, but have since corrected that information. Our story reflects that change.)
When officers arrived at a vehicle located in that area, they found two children, under the age of 10, deceased in the car, according to Calgary Police Service (CPS) Inspector Darren Smith.
Insp. Smith said that at this time, the deaths are considered suspicious in nature.
“Currently, we have one individual in custody. We do not believe there’s a risk to public safety,” Smith told reporters.
The male in custody was found near the vehicle, but at this time police can’t say what relation, if any, the person may have to the children.
“We still need to identify who the children are, and at that point we can then start to look at who their parents are, who is responsible, and what actually happened,” Smith said.
Insp. Smith said it was “very shocking” to have something happen so close to the District 3 CPS office, and then to have children involved, it takes a toll on officers.
“It is very hard on our officers. Our officers are human, and this is heartbreaking,” he said.
Jennifer Parker, who lives near the scene, said that around 10:30 a.m., she saw multiple police cars and ambulances converge on the area. She saw a person being put into handcuffs.
“Then it just went crazy. Then they taped everything off, they told us that two children had been killed. They didn’t tell us how, just that they had, and they didn’t say who did it,” Parker said.
Parker, a mom of three, said that with children involved, the incident really hits home.
“I mean, it’s absolutely heartbreaking, and I’ve got three little kids, and this is gonna sit with me for a long time, and everybody around here,” she said.
“I just hope that whoever was responsible for this is where they should be. My heart breaks for their extended family. Just hug your babies. Hug your babies.”
Meanwhile, 14th Street NW was closed in both directions to protect the scene, Insp. Smith said. It reopened at 1:30 p.m., according to police. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner was also at the scene.
Smith said over the next few hours, they’ll be trying to determine the children’s identities, locating potential witnesses, and anyone else who may have involvement or knowledge of the incident.
More information will be made available as the investigation continues.
