Family members of a man suspected of killing two people at a Burnaby restaurant have released a statement expressing the "horror" and "sorrow" they felt after learning about their relative's alleged involvement in the double murder.
Angus David Mitchell, 26, died in a police shootout in Maple Ridge Wednesday after a massive manhunt. According to the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team, the gun seized from the young man after the shootout was the same one used in the death of a man and a woman at the Royal Oak Sushi House on May 27. Police also confirmed it was the same weapon used on Tuesday to shoot Mitchell's former landlord.
The Vancouver Police Department released a statement from Mitchell's family Saturday afternoon that reached out to the victims and their families.
"The family of Angus Mitchell wishes to express our extreme sorrow and heartfelt sympathies to the families of Chinh Diem Huynh and Huong Tran. Their deaths were truly senseless. We cannot begin to describe the horror we felt upon learning of Angus's involvement in this tragedy," said the statement.
The message also offered sympathy to the landlord, who survived the attack but was sent to hospital in serious condition.
"Our thoughts are also with Angus's former landlord, who we hope recovers fully from his injuries," the family added.
Earlier this week, Victoria police said they had seized a gun from Mitchell for mental health reasons in February. The man later applied successfully to have the weapon returned.
Investigators said they have not made any connections between the gun seizure and the ongoing investigation into Mitchell. However, the Vancouver Police Department has been asked to carry out an administrative review of the incident.
