Sault police complete work at sites of recent murders

Following the shocking murders Oct. 23 in the city, the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service has completed its work at both crime scenes on Tancred Street and Second Line East.

Officers are no longer present at either location. In a news release Friday, police repeated their plea to allow the family privacy.

“I want to stress, once again, the importance of respecting the victims and people affected by this tragedy,” Chief Hugh Stevenson said in the release.

“I urge community members and media alike: please respect their right to privacy. We have received numerous calls asking the service to relay that message. Please, allow them time to grieve the loss of their loved ones.”

Four people were killed, including three children, and a woman was injured at two different locations in the northern Ontario city before the shooter took his own life in what police have called a case of intimate partner violence.

Police have not released the identities of those involved, but family members have identified one of the victims as 41-year-old Angie Sweeney and the gunman as Bobbie Hallaert, said to be Sweeney's partner and the children's father.

“Further details are not being released at this time to ensure the integrity of the investigation,” Sault police said.

“The investigation and forensic analysis of evidence collected is ongoing.”