Two Children Found Dead in Vehicle in Northwest Calgary; Man in Custody

Key facts

• Two children under age 10 found dead in a vehicle in northwest Calgary.
• A man was taken into custody near the vehicle on 14th Street N.W.
• Police received a call at approximately 10 a.m. on Thursday.
• The homicide unit is investigating the suspicious deaths.
• Medical examiner will determine cause of death and sex of the children.
• The relationship between the man and children is unknown.

A Shocking Discovery on a Busy Thoroughfare

Two children, both believed to be under the age of 10, were found dead in a vehicle in the northwest Calgary community of North Haven on Thursday morning, prompting a homicide investigation and the arrest of a man nearby. Police were called to the 4500 block of 14th Street N.W. at around 10 a.m., where they located a stopped vehicle and, after searching it, discovered the two deceased children. A man near the vehicle was taken into custody without incident, but investigators have not yet determined if he is related to the victims.

Homicide Unit Takes Over as Investigation Begins

Calgary Police Insp. Darren Smith told reporters at a noon news conference that the deaths are considered suspicious and that the homicide unit has assumed control of the investigation. “At this point it is still too early in the investigation. We still need to determine who the children are and at that point we can start to look at who their parents are, who is responsible and what actually happened,” Smith said. The medical examiner was already on scene and will determine the cause of death as well as the sex of the children, as police work to identify the young victims.

Neighbors Shocked by Tragedy Outside Their Doors

Residents in the area expressed distress upon learning of the incident. Sara Carascallen, who moved into the neighborhood a month ago with her boyfriend Zale Gilbertson, said they regularly walk on the road where the vehicle was found. “We don’t know what happened, obviously, but it was right outside our door. That’s not something you experience, and you don’t know how to deal with that,” Carascallen said, visibly emotional. Gilbertson recalled seeing lights and people standing in the middle of the road that morning, and was confused when his Uber could not reach their home.

Scene Secured and Vehicle Removed

Police closed a section of 14th Street N.W. north of John Laurie Boulevard to traffic for several hours, directing cars to turn onto bordering streets and putting up yellow tape to cordon off the scene. Officers were seen rolling up strands of tape as a tow truck hauled away a black Jeep SUV, followed closely by a police truck. The street has since reopened, but the investigation remains active.

Emotional Toll on First Responders

Smith acknowledged the difficulty of the case for officers, saying, “It was very shocking. This is very hard on our officers. Our officers are human and this is heartbreaking for everyone.” The deaths of children are always particularly challenging for law enforcement, and support services have been made available to those affected.

Open Questions and Next Steps

Police are seeking witnesses who may have information about the incident. Smith emphasized that the investigation is in its early stages, and many questions remain unanswered, including the relationship between the man in custody and the children, the circumstances leading to their deaths, and the motive, if any. The medical examiner's findings will be crucial in determining the cause and manner of death. As the community grapples with the tragedy, police continue to urge anyone with information to come forward.

The bottom line

• Two children under 10 were found dead in a vehicle in northwest Calgary; a man is in custody.
• The deaths are considered suspicious and are being investigated by the homicide unit.
• The medical examiner will determine the cause of death and identify the children.
• Police do not yet know the relationship between the man and the children.
• The investigation is in early stages; witnesses are urged to contact police.
• The incident has deeply affected both the community and responding officers.