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University Of Calgary Stabbing Suspect The Son Of A Cop

Stabbing Suspect The Son Of A Cop

Five people are dead Tuesday after being stabbed at a house party in the northwest community of Brentwood in Calgary.

Calgary Police Chief Rick Hanson confirmed the suspect is the son of a senior officer with the force. Hanson says the suspect is a student at the University of Calgary and was an invited guest at a house party celebrating the end of the school year. He also worked at a grocery store.

UPDATE, 6:05 p.m. MST — Matthew de Grood, a U of C student, has been charged with five counts of first degree murder. Read more here.

Hanson says the suspect arrived at the party early in the morning, got his hands on a knife and began stabbing the victims one by one.

First-degree-murder charges are pending and the name of the suspect will be released after they are laid.

Nancy Hixt, a reporter with Global Calgary, tweeted a photo of the alleged suspect lying on a gurney.

Three males were found dead at a home on the 100 block of Butler Crescent N.W. according to police, and two more victims died later in hospital.

The incident occurred at about 1:20 a.m.

All five victims were in their late teens and early 20s, say police.

According to neighbours, University of Calgary students were renting the house and were holding a Bermuda Shorts Day-themed house party.

However, neighbours say the party moved inside around nightfall Monday evening and there was never any commotion or screaming heard overnight.

Emma Poole, a police spokesperson, told the Canadian Press that a man in his 20s was arrested with the help of the police canine unit about 40 minutes after the stabbings.

He was taken to hospital for treatment of dog bites.

There was no immediate word on the possible motive.

The University of Calgary posted a short statement about the deaths on its website saying counselling would be offered to anyone needing it.

"The University of Calgary is mourning the loss of five young people killed early this morning in Brentwood," the statement reads.

"The identities of the deceased have not yet been confirmed by Calgary Police Services. Once details are confirmed by Calgary Police Services, the university will provide a further statement."

Mayor Naheed Nenshi took to Twitter to offer his condolences Tuesday morning.

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