British Columbia

4 dead in Richmond, B.C., shooting were from same family, homicide investigators say

The identities of the two women and two men who died in the shooting earlier this week have not been released by the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team, though police did confirm they were all from the same family and said their deaths were not the result of intimate partner violence.

2 women, 2 men found dead in home were not victims of intimate partner violence, police say

A police officer with a hat that reads 'IHIT Homicide Team'.
Homicide and RCMP investigators attend the scene of a homicide Thursday in Richmond, B.C. Police say four people were killed in the shooting that they believe took place Monday evening. (Ben Nelms/CBC)

Police say two men and two women who were found dead at a home after a shooting in Richmond, B.C., were from the same family.

Sgt. David Lee of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) said the identities of the four people aren't yet being released pending notification of next of kin.

"This is a tragic loss of life, but we are able to confirm the community is not at risk,'' Lee said Thursday.

"We're able to confirm that all persons involved in, and responsible for the homicide, were located at the scene. There are no suspects at large and [we are] not looking for any additional persons.''

Lee said one of the deceased had a valid firearms licence and access to guns. He said the deaths are not a result of intimate partner violence.

The four bodies were found in the multi-unit home in the 4500-block of Garden City Road Tuesday, although police have said they believed the shootings happened on Monday evening.

A police officer unfurls crime scene tape at the scene. Police confirmed Thursday that the two men and two women killed in the shooting were from the same family. (Ben Nelms/CBC)

"There was a call to British Columbia RCMP for a suspicious occurrence at the house [on Tuesday] and the police responded to check on the family right away,'' Lee said when asked about the delay.

He said officers searched the scene on Thursday with the help of the B.C. Coroners Service and the Integrated Forensic Identification Section.

Lee said the family members had no known associations to criminal activities.

Investigators are looking for witnesses who were in the area of Garden City Road near Odlin and Leslie Road on Monday. Anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious is asked to contact IHIT.

People who prefer to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 1-800-222-8477.

With files from CBC News