Ottawa suspect's parents email journalists about son's mental state
Here is the full text of a statement issued to the Associated Press (AP) by the parents of Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, the man authorities say killed a soldier at Ottawa’s National War Memorial, then stormed the Canadian parliament before being shot dead.
The statement was in response to an AP email which asked about reports that their son was mentally unstable or otherwise vulnerable.
“Hi, I am writing this note on behalf of my husband and myself. No words can express the sadness we are feeling at this time.
We are so sad that a man lost his life. He has lost everything and he leaves behind a family that must feel nothing but pain and sorrow. We send our deepest condolences to them although words seem pretty useless.
We are both crying for them. We also wish to apologise for all the pain, fright and chaos he created. We have no explanation to offer.
I am mad at our son, I don’t understand and part of me wants to hate him at this time. You write that our son was vulnerable, we don’t know, we (he) was lost and did not fit in.
I his mother spoke with him last week over lunch, I had not seen him for over five years before that. So I have very little insight to offer.
We don’t wish to be part of any media circus, we don’t think it will add anything to the conversation. Please respect our privacy although many may not feel we deserve any ... Once again we are so sorry.
Susan Bibeau and Bulgasem Zehaf“
