A Saint John man is facing first-degree murder charges after two boys were found dead inside a residence in the city's north end Wednesday morning, police say.
Officers responding to a 911 call in Millidgeville around 7 a.m. "immediately forced entry" and located the victims, aged 10 and 17, Staff Sgt. Sarah Hobbs told reporters Thursday.
Police also found a 46-year-old man with life-threatening injuries in the Skaling Court residence. He was taken into custody, given first aid and transported to hospital.
The accused was known to the victims, said Hobbs. But she declined to release the nature of the relationship between them, or even between the victims, in order to protect the identity of the victims.
She also declined to reveal how the boys died or whether the accused's injuries were self-inflicted, citing the integrity of the investigation and pending court proceedings.
WATCH | Police used force to enter residence: Saint John police responded to a 911 call Wednesday morning to a residence in the city’s north end, where officers discovered the bodies of a 10-year-old boy and 17-year-old boy. An injured 46-year-old man was taken to hospital and faces murder charges.The accused remains in hospital, in custody, and will appear in court at a later date to face the murder charges, Hobbs said.
She could not speak to a motive, but did say, "Police have no further concerns for public safety."
Hobbs wouldn't say who called 911, or whether anyone else was in the residence at the time, but police forced entry based on the information they received, she said.
"I know there is still lots of questions in relation to what took place. … It was extremely tragic and heartbreaking and people would like to know the answers, but unfortunately that is the only answers that I'm able to give today."
Hobbs offered condolences to the victims' family and friends and noted internal support has been offered to the officers involved in the response.
Police continued to gather evidence at the scene on Skaling Court Thursday. (Roger Cosman/CBC)Police remained on the scene, off McIntosh Street, Thursday as forensic identification officers continued to collect evidence.
Forensic identification services, the major crime unit and the family protection unit continue to investigate in co-operation with the coroner's office.
Anyone with information can contact Saint John police at 1-506-648-3333 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.