Victims of alleged Toronto crossbow killer were his mother and two brothers, police say

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Brett Ryan, 35, is pictured in this booking photo courtesy of the Toronto Police. Three people killed in a crossbow attack last week in Toronto were the mother and two brothers of Ryan who is accused of the crime, police said. Photo: Reuters

Published: 9:28am, 31 Aug 2016

A man who allegedly used a crossbow in a triple homicide in Toronto last week killed his mother and two brothers, according to police.

A judge lifted a publication ban on the identities of the victims Tuesday and court records show the people killed in last Thursday’s attack were Susan Ryan, 66, Alexander Ryan, 29, and Christopher Ryan, 42. Toronto police spokesman Mark Pugash confirmed the victims were Brett Ryan’s mother and brothers.

Ryan, 35, is charged with three counts of first-degree murder.

Police say the mother died from ligature strangulation, while one of the men died from a crossbow bolt wound to the neck and the other from a single arrowhead wound to the neck.

Authorities would not say whether the fatal wounds came from the crossbow being fired or from manual stabbings.

A policeman walks under a tape outside a house in Scarborough, Ontario, Friday, Aug. 26, 2016. Three people were killed at the home the day before, in what Canadian police called a homicide that may have involved a crossbow. Chris Young/The Canadian Press

Police have released few details about the killings or what might have motivated them. The lead detective in the case asked for the public’s help on Tuesday, requesting anyone who had contact with Ryan on Thursday morning to contact him.