A quiet teen with tragic past suspected in fatal northern Quebec stabbings

The teen shot and killed by police following three fatal stabbings in a northern Quebec community on the weekend was dealing with a number of tragic events from his past, including the slaying of his mother and the suicide of his brother.

Illutak Anautak, 19, who was described by friends and family as quiet young man with an easy smile, was identified by local officials as the man shot dead by police in the Inuit village of Akulivik after three break-ins during which five people were stabbed early Saturday morning.

The dead were identified as Anautak's uncle,Lucassie Anautak, a cousinwho was about 10 years old,andEli Qinuajuak, his aunt's partner, three local officialsconfirmed to CBC News.

Two otherswere taken to hospital with injuries. Investigators said Sunday evening that they are no longer listed as being in critical condition.

• Victims, suspect in northern Quebec slayings were related

Anautak's mother was killed by her boyfriendin 2014, friends say, while an older brother took his own life eight or nine years ago.

RandyMcLeod,Anautak'sformer teacher at the local school, described Anautak as a "very nice, extremely respectful" student. In 2011, Anautakwas among a group of students who joined McLeod on an educational trip to Montreal.

At the same time, McLeod said, the young man was "dealing with a lot of personal things and perhaps there wasn't any support."

"He was dealing with a lot of trauma;I guessthat maybe was too much," saidMcLeod, who is on leave from his position at the school.

"I don't know what the trigger was, what created the situation.Obviously I wasn't there."

McLeod worries that even ifAnautakhad sought help, the mental health resources wouldn't have been available.

"You need that kind of thing to be available to you in those moments, not, 'Ok, we'll get a counsellor flown here in a couple weeks to speak in another language,'" he said.

'Always smiling'

Despite his troubles, though, friends say Anautakrarely showed signs of anger.

He was passionate about hockey he played goalie and volunteered as a coach in the communityand posted photos on hisFacebookpage in appreciation ofhis hometown.

In a post accompanying a photojust last month, he wrote, "Akulivik always the best!"

He had three younger siblings and was "like a father to them," saidRebecca Tukalak, one of his closest friends.

He was "just always smiling and a funny guy," she said in an interview on Facebookmessenger, adding that he never showed signs of aggression.

Struggling with mother's death

Still,Anautukstruggledto cope withthe death of his mother.

He was known inAkulivik, a village of about 600, as a "quiet person," said his uncle and a localcouncillor, EliAullaluk.

"This is not normal. I feel sorry for all the people in this community. Our prayers go them all," he said.

In 2015, in a rare display of emotion on social media, Anautukwrote, "I finally get it mom, I miss you so much."

Tukalak, who lives inPuvirnituq, a remote community further south, said she last saw Anautukin May, and he didn't seem like himself.

"He was really weird and was talking really low.I think that was a goodbye," she said.

Her takeaway, she said, isthat even the "most nice and quiet peopleexplode one day, so it is really important to express truest feelings."