Police probe suspected murder-suicide in Nepean
A man shot and killed his wife before turning the gun on himself in the Pineglen community of Nepean early Sunday, police said.
Ottawa police received a call about a shooting at 84 MacFarlane Rd. around 1:30 a.m. Investigators have ruled it a murder-suicide.
“There is no indication of any other involvement or any additional suspects,” Insp. Glenn Wasson said outside the house.
Wasson said there were four people in the house when the shots were fired, including the deceased man and woman.
The others are believed to be their sons.
Police didn’t release the names of the dead couple, said to be in their 50s, or any other details about their investigation. Police also released no information on the type of firearm used.
Neighbours said Tony and Safa Marina lived at the house. The neighbours said the couple has three sons and were originally from Syria.
A family member of Safa’s family who did not wish to be identified, confirmed the couple’s identities, adding said Safa “loved her children very much,” calling her a “good wife” and a “good mother.”
Safa, 53, had four sisters and two brothers in Syria and one brother in Canada, the family member said.
Tony and Safa Marina came to Ottawa 30 years ago.
The Nepean community where they lived is southwest of the intersection of Hunt Club Road and Prince of Wales Drive.
The stone and red-painted bungalow was blocked by police cruisers and cordoned off with police tape.
Neighbours were confused about what they woke up to. None of the neighbours approached by the Citizen described hearing a disturbance or gunshots overnight but said police have visited the house in the past.
One neighbour said it was common for residents to call bylaw services to make noise complaints about arguing, car repairing, chainsawing and lawn mowing happening at the house overnight.
“Lots of yelling,” one neighbour said. “It just wasn’t a happy family situation.”
Some neighbours made property standards complaints over the look of the front yard, parts of which are concealed by a rickety fence.
According to neighbours, Tony Marina often worked on cars and other mechanical projects.
On Sunday, there were snowcovered tools and ladders in the front yard.
The Marina family has lived at the house for at least 20 years, according to neighbours.