Ottawa police release details of June murder-suicide investigation in Leitrim

Ottawa police have finished their investigation into the killing of two young boys in the Leitrim community last month, releasing details about what officers believe occurred in the hours following their deaths.

Two boys, aged 7 and 12, were found dead inside a home on Mandevilla Crescent on June 29 around 10:00 a.m. Police linked an earlier fire and a burned vehicle to the incident. From post-mortem findings, investigators determined the boys were killed inside the home either late June 28 or early June 29.

Police believe their father, Mohammed Al-Lami, 40, was responsible. In the early morning of June 29, Al-Lami drove to Iroquois, about 65 kilometres south of Ottawa, where he "intentionally set fire to his dental practice." Around 5:30 a.m., Ontario Provincial Police were called to Highway 416 at Rideau River Road near Kemptville for a vehicle fire. Al-Lami died by suicide and his remains were found in the vehicle.

The investigation uncovered a history of intimate partner violence surrounding ongoing conflicts over parenting arrangements and financial support. "While no single circumstance can fully explain this violence, the evidence indicates that these issues likely formed part of the context leading to the deaths," the police release stated. Officers concluded that "Al-Lami acted alone." No criminal charges will be laid.