A father and his 2 children found dead in Quebec’s Lanaudière region

Quebec provincial police are investigating the deaths of three people in Notre-Dame-des-Prairies in the Lanaudière region.

The deceased include a father and his two children, according to Sûreté du Québec spokesperson Catherine Bernard.

Ianik Lamontagne, 46, and three-year-olds Antoine and Tristan were identified as the deceased, according to Radio-Canada sources. 

Bernard says police are investigating it as a double homicide-suicide. 

Police say they received a 911 call at about 2 p.m. Saturday. Officers were dispatched to a residence on Patrick Street where they found three bodies.

A perimeter was established and a command post was set up. Over the next few hours, police will collect witness testimonies and analyze the scene.

Notre-Dame-des-Prairies Mayor Suzanne Dauphin said the deaths are reminders that life is fragile and precious and that mental health issues can affect everyone, regardless of their age or situation.

“As a society, we must also commit ourselves to preventing such events in the future,” she said in a statement Sunday. “This means stepping up our efforts to recognize the warning signs of distress and despair among our loved ones.”