Matthew de Grood, 23, ID'd as suspect in Calgary's worst mass murder
The man suspected of fatally stabbing five people in their 20s at a northwest Calgary house party is the son of a veteran police officer, according to the chief of police.
Matthew de Grood, 23, is in custody after four males and a female died following the early-morning stabbings in the city’s Brentwood neighbourhood, just north of the University of Calgary campus.
Matthew de Grood, 23, is expected to be charged with five counts of first-degree murder after five people were stabbed to death at a house party early Tuesday morning. (St. Francis High School yearbook)
Calgary Police Services Chief Rick Hanson said de Grood will likely be charged with five counts of first-degree murder later this afternoon.
The stabbings happened around 1:20 a.m. MT on Tuesday at a house party celebrating the end of university classes, police said.
"This is the worst mass murder in Calgary's history," said Hanson at a news conference Tuesday.
De Grood, who attended the University of Calgary, was planning to attend law school, according to multiple sources.
“We understand the party was for friends and people of the university and the suspect was an invited guest," said Hanson.
The attacks happened shortly after his arrival at the party, he said.
“The suspect arrived at the party, obtained a large knife and targeted the victims one by one, stabbing them,” said Hanson.
There is nothing to indicate that there was any incident that led up to the event, or that de Grood had consumed drugs or alcohol. It's believed he came to the party directly from work, said Hanson.
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The suspect did have a weapon — which police referred to as "an instrument" — that he carried with him, which police believe he brought from work.
"Primarily the weapon that was used was one that was obtained in the house," Hanson said.
The victims were identified as a 22-year-old man from Priddis, Alta., a 23-year-old woman from Calgary, two 23-year-old men from Calgary and a 27-year-old man from Calgary. Police are trying to alert the families of all the victims.
None of the victims, nor the suspect, have any past history with police, said Hanson.
There will be a vigil at the university's MacEwan Hall from 4:40 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. MT, according to the students' union.
End of classes celebration
According to neighbours, the people at the house had been celebrating the last day of university classes with a fire in a home's backyard.
Bermuda Shorts Day festivities to mark the end of the University of Calgary’s winter semester have been a campus tradition since 1960.
Three people were pronounced dead at the scene. A female was found injured on the lawn, while two others were taken to hospital in critical, life-threatening condition, and later died, officials said.
One other person suffered minor injuries.
The three bodies in the house were taken away by officials from the medical examiner’s office around mid-morning.
No names will be released until autopsies have been completed, police said.
Suspect arrested
The suspect fled on foot but police arrested him about 40 minutes later with assistance from the K-9 unit. Investigators are not looking for any more suspects.
The suspect was taken to hospital to be treated for a dog bite.
The homicide unit is leading the investigation with assistance from the forensics team as a heavy police presence remained in the neighbourhood Tuesday.
Detectives took several witnesses to a police station to be interviewed.
No previous problems at house
Nearby resident Doug Jones told CBC News he noticed about 12 to 20 university-aged people at the backyard party.
“When it started to get dark, they moved inside and once inside, you wouldn’t even be able to tell there was anything really even going on. It wasn’t loud at all,” he said.
The homicide unit is investigating after five people in their 20s were stabbed to death in Calgary. The stabbings occurred at an address in Brentwood early Tuesday morning. (Kyle Bakx/CBC)
"We’ve never had any problems over there."
Jones, who lives next door, said he thinks there are at least three students who live in the house. He said his bedroom door looks out on their backyard.
“What really touches me about it is how it can happen. I mean, we never heard a thing.”
Jones said Brentwood is an “old-fashioned neighbourhood."
“Nothing ever happens here because we’re in a crescent, we don’t get any other traffic other than people that live here, people that are coming to visit,” he said.
“It’s pretty shocking, it just goes to show it can happen anywhere.”
"The University of Calgary is mourning the loss of five young people killed early this morning in Brentwood," the school said in a written release, promising to provide further comment once more details are confirmed.
The university is offering counselling to students, faculty and staff affected by the tragedy. They are encouraged to go to the university's wellness centre in classroom MSC 370 or contact sar@ucalgary.ca.
“Our thoughts and condolences go out to the families and friends of all those affected,” said Raphael Jacob, president of the university's students’ union.
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