Ottawa Police Say Man Killed His Two Sons, Set Dental Practice on Fire and Died by Suicide
Ottawa police have concluded that 40-year-old dentist Mohammed Al-Lami killed his two young sons in southeast Ottawa on June 29. Investigators said he later set fire to his dental clinic in Iroquois before dying by suicide inside a vehicle near Kemptville.
The findings were released on July 21 following an extensive homicide investigation. The boys, aged seven and 12, had been staying with their father during a scheduled visit.
Al-Lami was divorced from the children’s mother.
Children Were Picked Up for Scheduled Visit
Police said Al-Lami collected his sons on the afternoon of Saturday, June 27.
The children were last confirmed alive on the evening of Sunday, June 28, while at their father’s home on Mandevilla Crescent, near Bank Street and Leitrim Road.
Investigators determined that the boys were killed the following day.
Dental Practice Set on Fire in Iroquois
Early on June 29, Al-Lami reportedly travelled to Iroquois, a community along the St. Lawrence River approximately 90 minutes southeast of Ottawa.
Police said he deliberately set fire to his dental practice before leaving the area.
He then drove a leased 2026 four-door Ford Explorer to a carpool parking area near Highway 416 and Rideau River Road, outside Kemptville. He later died by suicide inside the vehicle.
Evidence Shows Al-Lami Acted Alone
Investigators examined all three locations connected to the case, conducted interviews and reviewed financial and digital information.
Forensic evidence and post-mortem findings were also considered. Police concluded that Al-Lami acted alone.
Because he is deceased, criminal charges cannot be filed in relation to the deaths of the two children.
The investigation’s findings were shared with the boys’ mother, who asked that their identities remain private. Police also urged the public to respect the family’s privacy.
Parenting and Financial Disputes Formed Part of the Context
According to investigators, the case involved a history of intimate partner violence and continuing disagreements concerning parenting arrangements and financial support.
Police said no single factor could fully explain the violence. However, the evidence suggested that these ongoing conflicts likely contributed to the circumstances preceding the deaths.
Previous Threatening Email Led to Criminal Trial
The police findings were consistent with evidence presented during a brief criminal trial earlier in 2026.
Al-Lami had been charged after sending an email to his former wife containing threats against her and her current partner. The message was reportedly sent after she contacted him regarding child support.
Court proceedings showed that the email contained direct threats of severe violence and references to financial support.
Ontario Court Justice Norman Boxall repeatedly encouraged Al-Lami to accept a Crown proposal that would have resolved the case through a one-year peace bond.
The agreement could have allowed him to avoid a criminal record if he followed standard conditions.
Al-Lami Rejected Crown Offer and Represented Himself
Al-Lami, who had no previous criminal record, chose to represent himself and rejected the proposed peace bond.
He also refused to communicate with a female lawyer appointed to cross-examine his former wife. During the trial, he did not testify, present evidence or make arguments in his defence.
Justice Boxall expressed confusion over Al-Lami’s decision to reject an offer that would have protected him from receiving a criminal record.
Former Wife Described Previous Threats
During her testimony, Al-Lami’s former wife said the couple had married twice, in 2012 and 2015, in Jordan. Both were originally from Iraq.
They separated in 2017 and finalized their divorce in 2022.
She testified that Al-Lami had threatened her previously, although those threats were usually delivered in Arabic or expressed less directly.
The woman said she initially wondered whether he had been under the influence when he sent the threatening email.
She also stated that she did not consider herself afraid of him. However, she was concerned about his unpredictable behaviour.
She reported the message to police after being encouraged by her partner. For the sake of her children, she said she had not wanted Al-Lami to receive a criminal record.
Court Found Al-Lami Guilty of One Charge
Al-Lami was originally charged with two counts of uttering threats to cause bodily harm.
He was eventually convicted on one count after the Crown withdrew the second charge. In April, Justice Boxall sentenced him to 12 months of probation.
The judge advised Al-Lami to continue with his career and remain involved in his children’s lives while avoiding contact with his former wife.
The investigation determined that Mohammed Al-Lami acted alone in killing his two sons before setting fire to his dental practice and dying by suicide.
Police believe the tragedy occurred within a broader history of intimate partner violence, parenting disputes and disagreements over financial support. Authorities have asked the public to respect the privacy of the children’s mother and the grieving family.
