The Calgary Eritrean community is reeling after a father was charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of his two young children. The victims were a five-year-old boy and a three-year-old girl.
According to police, the father contacted 911 and admitted to killing his children. Emergency responders found the children in a vehicle in Calgary’s northwest.
The parents had been in a six-year common-law relationship and shared joint custody. During that time, police had responded to their residence four times due to reported issues.
Father Goitom Mengesha expressed the community’s shock, stating, “This has never happened in our community … and we are just shaken by what has happened.”
Dozens of community members gathered to support the grieving mother, who reportedly has no family in Canada. Adanech Sahilie emphasized the difficulty for her, saying, “It’s really hard for mom.”
This tragedy coincides with African Vaccination Week, which aims to promote child health. In Eritrea, vaccination coverage reached 98%, significantly reducing child mortality rates.
The theme for this year’s event was “Let Parents and the Community Work in Collaboration for Ensuring the Health of Our Children,” highlighting the importance of community support.
The situation remains fluid as investigations continue. The next court appearance for the accused has not yet been scheduled.