Two children dead in Oak Bay, father has self-inflicted wounds

VICTORIA — Two children are dead and their father is injured in what Oak Bay police are investigating as possible homicides and an attempted suicide on Christmas Day.

The young girls, ages four and six, were found dead in the ground-floor apartment at 1400 Beach Dr. at around 5 p.m. when police entered the suite.

The father was found with self-inflicted injuries in an attempted suicide, sources close to the family told The Times Colonist. The father was taken to hospital under police guard.

The Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit is investigating.

The unit confirmed Tuesday afternoon that the deaths are homicides and that the victims are young children ages four and six. Investigators confirmed the father is in hospital, and said they’re not looking for any other suspects.

“This is a devastating incident and we cannot begin to express our sympathy to all those touched by this tragedy,” said Cpl. Shane Rappel of the Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit.

Cause of death and the man’s injuries haven’t been disclosed. Identities haven’t been released.

The apartment building was behind police tape Tuesday as investigators took photos and gathered evidence. The blinds of the ground-floor apartment, which faces Oak Bay Marina, were closed.