A Canadian dentist murdered his two young sons, firebombed the dental practice where he worked, and then killed himself in a vehicle blaze, two years after reportedly emailing his ex-wife that he would kill everyone around her, according to Ottawa Police Service.
Murder of Two Sons and Suicide
Mohammed Al-Lami, 40, is believed to have murdered his sons, aged 7 and 12, in his south Ottawa home before he was found dead in a vehicle fire in Kemptville on the morning of June 29, police said. Authorities also linked Al-Lami to a blaze at the dental practice where he worked in Iroquois, as reported by CBC.
Handwritten Note and Prior Threats
Al-Lami railed against his ex-wife and the criminal justice and family court systems in a multi-page handwritten note discovered on his office desk, according to the outlet. He mentioned three people by name whom he viewed as corrupt, prompting authorities to ensure their safety, and claimed his ex-wife was the abuser in their relationship.
The dentist was on active probation for threatening to cause bodily harm to his ex-wife in 2024, according to court records. During a short trial in February 2026, Al-Lami represented himself and rejected the court's offer to resolve the matter with a one-year peace bond, the outlet reported.
Ex-Wife's Testimony and Threats
His ex-wife, who has not been identified, testified that the couple married and had two children before divorcing in 2022. After the divorce, Al-Lami stopped sending child support and sent a shocking email in 2024 with a slew of disturbing threats. The email stated: 'I will kill everyone around you and your pimp … in a very wild and savage way. I won't kill you. I will leave you alone, disabled in a wheelchair that you can't move, even to visit your loved ones' graves.'
He continued: 'I'll make you an example of the unfair justice system. I will make you a worldwide story. When you do something wrong to me, you pay for it. You pay for it either through the child support or whatever I feel suitable to respond to your actions until I end it the way I like for you and [your] pig,' referring to his ex's current partner.
The woman testified she was 'astonished' by her ex-husband's words and had simply been asking for child support. She said she decided to come forward about the threatening email out of concern for her children and at her current partner's request. 'I just felt, what if he literally, this happened? And then who's going to be there for my kids if anything happened to me?' the mother said. 'I just don't know what can happen. I just didn't want to live with the unpredictability,' she testified, adding she hadn't taken his previous threats seriously.
Court Proceedings and Probation
Al-Lami told the judge he 'didn't have anything to say' to the allegations. A judge later ordered him to serve 12 months of probation, denying the Crown's requests for treatment programming and a DNA order.
Police Investigation and Community Response
Police said in a statement that they are continuing to investigate the murder-suicide and will release more information once forensic examinations are completed. Authorities will not release the names of the children out of respect for their mother, whom they are supporting at this time.
'Incidents like this affect us all, and we acknowledge the shock and heartbreak many are experiencing as we work to understand what happened,' police wrote. 'Please check in on one another. If you or someone you know is struggling, consider reaching out to family, friends, a trusted community member, local support organizations, or professional services in your area. You do not have to navigate this alone.'
