A Canadian citizen, reportedly of Bangladeshi origin has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder, after Canadian police arrested him from a home where three women and a man, believed to be his family members, were found dead.

Menhaz Zaman, who several Dhaka-based media outlets report to be of Bangladeshi origin, was taken into custody on Sunday (Jul 28) from the scene of the crime, Canadian police announced on Monday (Jul 29).

He was arrested when York Regional Police (YRP) responded to a call shortly to a residence in Markham, Ontario, 30km (18.64 miles) south of Toronto, reports Reuters.

Upon arriving they found three women and one man dead. Police have declined to identify the deceased, or the cause of death.

“We do believe that the man we have in custody that’s now been charged is responsible for these murders,” Andy Pattenden, a media relations officer with the YRP, told reporters on Monday.

City News in Toronto reported that the four victims were family members of Zaman, but this is yet to be confirmed by the police or the coroner’s office.

Meanwhile, Toronto-based news agency The Star reports that a former tenant of the family, Ammara Riaz, said she never would have expected the young man to be accused of such crimes.

Riaz, who rented one of two basement apartments in their home for about five to six years until she moved out last year, confirmed that the people living in the house were Moniruz Zaman, his wife Momotaz, their daughter Malesa and son Menhaz, as well as a grandmother whose name Riaz didn’t know, The Star reports.

She couldn’t confirm the spelling of the names, but she did confirm that a profile photo on the gaming site was that of Menhaz.

“He was such a nice, quiet, calm guy,” Riaz said of Menhaz. “I saw that guy all the time helping his parents.”

She said when she first heard the news, she was “shocked” and convinced an outsider must be responsible because there was no way one of the family members could have committed such an act.

Police, however, have not confirmed that the family members are that of the victims.

The coroner’s report is expected within a couple of days, Andy Pattenden told Reuters, after which police will release the identities of victims and that the police are not searching for further tips on the case.

Zaman appeared in an Ontario courtroom on Monday and police said he is expected to reappear in court via video link on Aug 2.