Brampton Is Hosting A Candlelight Vigil For 11-Year-Old Riya Rajkumar This Evening

A candlelit vigil will be held tonight for Riya Rajkumar, the 11-year old girl whose body was discovered in a Brampton apartment last week. Peel Regional Police found the girl shortly after an Amber Alert was issued for her whereabouts around 11:00 PM last Thursday. The vigil will be held in Brampton at the Garden Square at 5:45 PM this evening. Police Chief Chris McCord will be in attendance alongside other community leaders.

Riya was abducted by her father Roopesh Rajkumar, 41, during a time when he was supposed to be taking her out to celebrate her birthday. But after he failed to return his daughter to his ex-girlfriend, Riya’s mother she grew concerned and alerted police. Sadly, Riya’s mother was to celebrate a joint birthday with her daughter that night, but her daughter would never return home.

Police reported that Roopesh had sent several threatening messages to Riya’s mother in which he suggested that he was going to both harm himself and their daughter. He was apprehended by OPP officers near Orillia around midnight shortly after the body of his daughter was discovered.

READ ALSO: Father Of 11-Year-Old Riya Rajkumar Charged With First-Degree Murder

After arresting the suspect, police became aware of a “medical concern” and escorted the father to a hospital and then to the trauma centre where he was treated for a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

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READ ALSO: Peel Police Gets Inundated With Complaints About The Late Hour Of Last Night's Amber Alert

Police received numerous complaints about the timing of the Amber Alert which wasn’t sent out until late at night, with residents suggesting that the alarm had disturbed their sleep. Police were quick to address the issue on Twitter, stating that the minor inconvenience had resulted in the capture of their suspect.

Our communications bureau is receiving numerous calls to 9-1-1, complaining about the late hour of the Amber Alert. As a direct result of someone receiving the alert, we were able to locate the suspect & his vehicle. The system works. Thank you to all those that called with tips.

— Peel Regional Police (@PeelPoliceMedia) February 15, 2019

Riya will be laid to rest on Wednesday according to the memorial page which was created for the girl by Lotus Funeral and Cremation Centre.