Police suspect murder-suicide in North Gower deaths

Twomen found dead in a home in the south Ottawa community of North Gower were killed by the same gun in what police saywas a murder-suicide.

At 10:20 p.m. Tuesday night, Peter Thomasing, a resident in the3000block of PierceRoad, made a 911 call.

When a policetactical team and paramedicsarrived at the rural property,about 40 minutes from downtown Ottawa,and entered the home, theyfound two men deadThomasing, 39, and his 75-year-oldfather, James Thomasing.

According to James Thomasing's ex-wife Joyce, Peter had been caring for his ailing father since 2003, after Jamessuffered a stroke. She referred to her son as a wonderful boy, her former husband as a wonderful man and said that Peter didn't want to put his dad in a home.

Neighbour Jim Ross said he didn't hearcommotion from the property next doorand learned of the situation from police who knocked on his door late Tuesday evening.

"Its a bit of a shock to everyone around here, nobody seen something like that coming," said Ross. "They were very nice neighbours, they kept to themselves."

Linda Davidson, who's lived in North Gower since the 1960s, said the Thomasings were well-liked in the community.

"He was kind of laid back and quiet but hed give you the shirt off his back," Davidson said of the father. "He was just a really nice guy."

The provinces Special Investigations Unit will investigate the case, as police wereen route to the scene when the deaths occurred. The SIU is called to investigate when police are in contact with someone who has been seriously injured, dies or alleges sexual assault.

Ottawa police said they've responded to three calls for service at the home since 2005, though they would not say when nor what the calls were about.

James Thomasing was aretired school teacher and his adult son worked as a mechanical engineer.