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The victims of the "worst mass murder in Calgary history" were all "good kids" described as innocent victims of a knife-wielding madman.
The five students were identified as Joshua Hunter, Kaitlin Perras, Jordan Segura, Lawrence Hong and Zackariah Rathwell, according to CBC News. They were attacked at an off-campus house party Tuesday and stabbed to death while celebrating the last day of class at the University of Calgary.
The reason behind the bloody attack remains unclear.
"It was not caused by the actions of anyone at the party," Calgary Chief of Police Rick Hanson said, CBC News reported.
Police arrested a 22-year-old student, Matthew de Grood, who is suspected of stabbing the five students during his rampage early Tuesday. He has been charged with five counts of first-degree murder.
Hanson says de Grood is the son of a 33-year veteran of the Calgary police force.
The father is “devastated” and “heartbroken” over the actions of his son, Hanson told reporters.
Investigators have not discovered a motive surrounding the brutal slaying, but all of the victims were innocent in the attack, Hanson said.
Each of the victims, except Rathwell, were students of University of Calgary and residents of the Alberta city.
Rathwell and Hunter were in a four-person Calgary band called Zackariah and the Prophets. Rathwell played the guitar and sang. Hunter was a drummer. The band had a party Saturday for its debut album.
“We didn’t lose two bandmates, we lost two brothers,” another member wrote on the group's Facebook page.
The attack was reported at about 1:20 a.m. at 11 Butler Crescent N.W.
The party was nicknamed “Bermuda Shorts Day” to celebrate the last day of classes. The attendees were barbecuing in the backyard, according to neighbors.
The suspect was invited to the party. He wrapped up a shift at a local grocery store and when he arrived, he grabbed a large knife and stabbed the victims several times.
Three of the victims were dead by the time police arrived.
Perras, 23, was found critically injured inside the home, but died at the hospital.
A police K-9 unit tracked and found de Grood after the murders. The dog bit him while he was being taken into police custody.
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/cri...fied-students-article-1.1758143#ixzz2zCsRJ2zo