Police identify victims of Oshawa shooting, appeal for shooter information

Police are appealing for information to help them determine a possible motive in the deaths of four family members in an Oshawa home on Friday.

In an update released Sunday afternoon, Durham police have confirmed the identities of the four family members shot to death as 50-year-old Chris Traynor and his children, 20-year-old Bradley, 15-year-old Adelaide and 11-year-old Joseph.

A fourth child, Sam, was not home at the time of the incident. He was away at school.

A 50-year-old woman continues to recover in hospital from gunshot wounds. Police have not identified her but friends and community members say her name is Loretta Traynor, the mother and wife of the four family members killed.

On Saturday, police identified the lone shooter as 48-year-old Mitchell Lapa of Winnipeg, who died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Police have not specified Lapa’s relation to his victims but he is said to be the brother of Loretta Traynor.

“Investigators also want to speak to anyone who knew the lone attacker, Mitchell Lapa, as they seek to understand the motivation and reasons for this attack,” read a statement released by police. “If anyone has details or background information about him, they are asked to contact their local police service or one of our lead investigators.”

Condolences for the Traynor family have been pouring in on social media throughout the weekend, with many describing the family as generous, caring and deeply involved in the local sports community.

“The Traynor family were beloved and active members of the Oshawa community,” reads a GoFundMe page set up to support the surviving members of the family, which had raised more than $94,000 as of 11 p.m. Sunday evening.

“Their acts of kindness, love and generosity are unmatched. The impact the family had on everyone they touched will be forever remembered.”

Ken Babcock, president of Baseball Oshawa, said Chris Traynor had coached with the program for many years, while Joseph Traynor was a member of the Legionaires rep team.

“Words cannot describe the shocking and senseless tragedy that has struck our wonderful community in Oshawa and impacted our collective baseball family,” Babcock said in a statement.

Neighbours had described the Traynor family as caring deeply for each other, and said they were often seen spending time playing games and doing chores together in the yard.

The City of Oshawa announced that flags would be lowered to half-mast at city hall and other facilities.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends during this difficult time,” Mayor Dan Carter said in a statement, while thanking police and first responders.

Files from The Canadian Press were used in this report