CALGARY - Police say five young people are dead and a suspect is in custody after a stabbing at a house party not far from the University of Calgary.
Emma Poole, a police spokeswoman, said three males were found dead at the scene early Tuesday morning in the northwest residential neighbourhood of Brentwood.
“When our members arrived they were able to confirm that three people were deceased while two others were taken to hospital with critical injuries,” Poole said.
“Those two that were transferred unfortunately succumbed to the injuries at hospital.”
Poole said the five victims appeared to be in their late teens or early 20s.
She said 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 charges against the suspect or the possible motive.
The blue-sided house where the stabbing happened is on a quiet, tree-lined residential street. It was surrounded with yellow police tape as medical examiner staff brought three bodies out on stretchers.
Neighbours in the area say the house was being rented by University of Calgary students and that the party stemmed from the student union's annual Bermuda Shorts Day, which was held Monday.
Bermuda Shorts Day, shortened by students to BSD, is an annual outdoor party on campus with live music and beer gardens to celebrate the final day of classes.
The school's student newspaper, The Gauntlet, wrote about the tradition two weeks ago in a story titled “BSD: It'll be a bloodbath.”
On Twitter, many students wrote about how they starting drinking early in the morning Monday and continued after the campus event at parties elsewhere.
Trent Pattison wrote: “Sad that days that are supposed to be remembered as a fun great day will be remembered for the wrong reasons. #BSD2014.”
Poole could not confirm the party stemmed from the event.
“What we know right now is that it appears it was a house party,” she said.
“We hadn't been called to the home earlier. We were only called once the incident occurred, so what actually led up to that, that's all being investigated at the moment.”
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.”
Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi took to Twitter to offer condolences.
“Thoughts and prayers of all Calgarians are with the young people we lost this morning, their families, friends, and university community,” the mayor said.
