Makeshift memorial grows outside Oshawa, Ont., home where 5 killed in apparent murder-suicide

Flowers, candles and stuffed toys are piling up outside a two-storey brick house in Oshawa, Ont., the day after five members of a family died in an apparent murder-suicide.

Durham Regional Police homicide detectives continue to sift through the scene in the city east of Toronto, looking for clues as to why the killings early Friday morning took place.

Four males and one female were found dead in the home. At least two of the dead were young people under the age of 18, police said.

Police allege that the lone shooter was Mitchell Lapa, 48, a relative of the family who was an "uninvited person to the home."

Lapa, of Winnipeg, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said. A white pickup truck with Manitoba licence plates that was registered to Lapa was found at the scene. It was towed away on Friday.

Police said they are not looking for any other suspects and there is no ongoing threat to community safety.

Passersby dropped off flowers on the front lawn of the home in memory of the family on Saturday. Local residents say the family was well loved in the community.

Family, friends and neighbours told CBC News on Friday that the occupants of the house were Chris and Loretta Traynor and their four children: Sam, Brad, Adelaide and Joseph.

Watch | CBC's Angelina King reports on the latest near the scene of the Oshawa killings:

Makeshift memorial grows for Oshawa family members killed in shooting

4 years ago

Duration 4:15

CBC reporter Angelina King provides an update on an apparent murder-suicide in Oshawa. Four members of one family were killed. Police allege that the lone shooter was a relative. The family was well liked and respected in the community.

CBC News has learned that Chris Traynor and three of the children — Brad, Adelaide and Joseph — were killed while Loretta Traynor survived the shooting, and their son Sam was not at home at the time of the incident.

Police, however, have not officially released the identities of the four family members who were killed. They have said they will do so following a post-mortem and after next of kin are informed. 

The shooter is believed to be Loretta Traynor's brother, according to an online obituary posted in 2019 for their father. 

Const. George Tudos, spokesperson for the Durham Regional Police Service, said on Friday that several callers reported hearing gunshots inside the residence, located near the corner of Harmony Road and Parklane Avenue, at about 1:20 a.m.

Neighbours told CBC News that they heard about 10 to 15 gunshots.

Tudos said police are awaiting confirmation on the ages of the victims from the coroner.

A memorial is also growing outside of Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School in Oshawa, where Chris Traynor was a teacher. The school is part of the Durham Catholic District School Board.   

Traynor is listed as a staff member on the school's website. He was also a baseball coach, according to Baseball Oshawa.

'He was a role model. A caring teacher,' from student says

Matthew Reid, a former student, said Traynor was an amazing person, and an amazing teacher.

Reid said Traynor taught him twice — in Grade 11 and again in Grade 12.

"He would always go the extra mile to make sure his students were successful," Reid told CBC News. 

"He had a great sense of humour, and always made the class laugh. It was very easy to tell that Mr. Traynor loved his job. He loved telling stories and jokes.

"I looked up to him. He was a role model. A caring teacher, loving father, and loving husband. Mr. Traynor was the perfect example of a man."

Reid said "it has been a very tough couple of days" and that a lot of people are "feeling the immense weight of this tragedy."

Claire Dennis, a friend of one of the children and a former student of Chris Traynor, has launched a GoFundMe campaign to support the family.

"They were an absolutely incredible family with the kindest hearts," Dennis told CBC News.

"Each member of family was so involved in the community and sincerely touched everyone they met."

Watch | Neighbours and colleagues are remembering Chris Traynor as a dedicated sports coach who had a deep connection to the community: 

Death of Oshawa, Ont., family has shocked the community: Father's colleague

4 years ago

Duration 5:47

Chris Traynor and three of his four kids died in an apparent murder-suicide Friday. His neighbours and colleagues are remembering Traynor as a dedicated sports coach who had a deep connection to the community.

Ken Babcock, president of Oshawa Minor Baseball, said working with children was what Traynor loved best.

"Chris has been with us for a long time and has coached kids from the youngest age right through to his oldest boys … and so the impact is invaluable," Babcock told CBC News.

Babcock said "an appropriate recognition and honour" is being planned for Traynor.