Saint John police say two boys aged 10 and 17 were found dead inside a residence Wednesday morning after officers responded to a 911 call.
A 46-year-old man was injured and has been taken into custody, according to police. His injuries are described as life-threatening.
Officers responded to an apartment building on Skaling Court at about 7 a.m.
“The accused will appear in court at a later date, charged with two counts of murder,” police said in a Thursday morning news release.
“The accused was known to the victims and the police have no further concerns for public safety.”
Two neighbours in the apartment building, who didn’t want to give their names due to the nature of the incident, said they heard a commotion Wednesday morning that included yelling and slamming doors.
They said they didn’t realize how serious the situation was until police came and broke down the unit’s door. They also describe seeing blood in the hallway.
In a media availability Thursday afternoon, Saint John Police Force spokesperson Staff Sgt. Sarah Hobbs confirmed the suspect remains in hospital and “is still under police custody, so police are present.”
Hobbs said first-degree murder charges have been laid.
However, she said details about the relationship between the victims and suspect, as well as how they died, will not be released.
Hobbs added that while what happened “was extremely tragic and heartbreaking and people would like to know answers,” she could not offer any more details due to the ongoing investigation.
The Saint John Police Forensic Identification Services, Major Crime Unit and the Family Protection Unit in cooperation with the Coroner’s office are all taking part in the investigation.
— with a file from Global News’ Reeti Meenakshi Rohilla