Police reveal what happened hours after father kills two sons in Ottawa

Ottawa police have finished their investigation into the killing of two young boys in the Leitrim community last month, revealing what officers believe their father did in the hours after their deaths.

By Natasha O'Neill

Posted Jul 21, 2026 04:02:35 PM.

Last Updated Jul 22, 2026 02:25:52 PM.

WARNING: Graphic content.

Ottawa police have finished their investigation into the killing of two young boys in the Leitrim community last month, revealing what officers believe their father did in the hours after their deaths.

Around 10:00 a.m. on June 29, emergency responders found two boys, aged 7 and 12, inside a home on Mandevilla Crescent. Police linked an earlier fire and a burned vehicle with the incident, leading to a complex investigation, officials explained.

In early July, police said they believe the man responsible for the boys’ deaths was their father, Mohammed Al-Lami, 40, who is also dead.

In a press release, officials said they followed evidence showing Al-Lami picking up the two boys for his scheduled parenting time, mid-afternoon on June 27. Police have previously revealed the boys’ parents are divorced.

The next day, June 28, was when the boys were last known to be alive at the house on Mandevilla Crescent. From post-mortem findings, officials said they believe the boys were killed inside the home either late June 28 or early June 29.

In the early morning on June 29, police say Al-Lami drove to Iroquois, Ont., about 65 kilometres south of Ottawa, where he “intentionally set fire to his dental practice.”

Then, around 5:30 a.m., Ontario Provincial Police were called to Highway 416 at Rideau River Road, near Kemptville, for a vehicle fire. Ottawa police say that Al-Lami died by suicide and his remains were found in the vehicle.

It wasn’t until a neighbour went to the home after growing concerned when no one answered the door that police were called for a wellness check on that Monday morning.

“Investigators examined the three scenes, completed interviews, reviewed financial and digital records, and considered forensic and post-mortem findings,” the release reads. “The evidence established that Al-Lami acted alone.”

The investigation led police to uncover a history of intimate partner violence surrounding ongoing conflicts involving the parenting arrangements of the boys and financial support.

*Map showcasing the approximate scenes the investigation and where two children were found dead. (Google Maps)*

“While no single circumstance can fully explain this violence, the evidence indicates that these issues likely formed part of the context leading to the deaths,” the release notes.

No criminal charges will be laid since the person responsible is dead. The details of the investigation were shared with the boys’ mother, police said.

“We recognize the profound impact these deaths have had on the boys’ family, friends, school communities, neighbours and everyone who was affected by this tragedy,” Deputy Chief Patricia Ferguson said.