Police work to answer the ‘why’ behind Brentwood stabbing spree

CALGARY- Following the unthinkable killings of five students following a celebration to mark the end of classes, the question everyone continues to ask is “why?”

Early Tuesday morning, the victims were stabbed to death during a house party in Brentwood. 22-year-old Matthew de Grood, the son of a veteran Calgary police officer, has since been charged with five counts of first-degree murder.

“There’s still a lot of detail we have to look into. We will continue to interview witnesses, anybody that’s got information,” Police Chief Rick Hanson told Global News. “We’re looking at any electronic devices, the cellphone that he had, computers, we’ve got our tech crimes people involved to look at that.

“We have so many questions left to answer, the community rightfully is asking, ‘how could this happen, and why?’”

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Hanson says de Grood is scheduled to undergo a psychiatric assessment, which will be a key piece of the investigation.

“When there’s an event of this magnitude, there’s only so much the police can do. We’re talking to witnesses and we know now what happened at the scene in great detail. We’ve talked to his friends, we’ve talked to family. But there is this piece that is critical.

“We’re not psychologists, we’re not psychiatrists. So the professionals on that end will move in now to provide their expert assessment of the accused.”

READ MORE: How stabbings are different than other homicidal attacks

As tributes continue to pour in for the young victims, attention is also turning to their grieving families.

“I think all the families involved are going through a hugely difficult time. I think the victims’ families, I can’t imagine what they’re going through right now, I mean, these are good kids that went to a party at the end of the year. They didn’t do anything else wrong.”

Hanson adds that he has spoken to the suspect’s family, who are completely shocked and devastated over what transpired.

“There were no warnings or indicators, there’s nothing at all that would have indicated that there was a possibility at all that something like this could happen.”

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READ MORE: 5 victims of Brentwood stabbing spree identified 

While Calgarians continue to press for answers about what led to the attack, Hanson assured the public that while police are determining exactly what happened, they’re limited as to what they can say about it.

“We will not do anything that could jeopardize a subsequent investigation down the road. There is a need for folks to understand that we as much as anyone want to be able to say minute-by-minute leading up to this what happened and explain it, but we may not be able to do that because it’s before the courts.”

Memorials have been held at the University of Calgary and ACAD, where some of the victims attended school. Another will be held on Thursday at Mount Royal University, which two of the victims attended.