TORONTO (Reuters) - The father who was charged and arrested with the abduction and first-degree murder of his 11-year-old daughter last week has died in a Toronto hospital from a self-inflicted gunshot wound Wednesday evening, according to a police press release.
Roopesh Rajkumar, 41, of Brampton, Ontario, a city northwest of Toronto, was a suspect in the abduction of his daughter Riya, after she did not return to her mother on the expected time.
Constable Sarah Patten of Peel Police declined to give details of the gunshot, or how Rajkumar acquired the gun, due to the ongoing investigation.
Riya's funeral was held on Wednesday, where acting Peel Police Chief Chris McCord read a statement from Riya's mother.
"She touched a lot of lives with her laughter and contagious smile. It breaks my heart to know I will no longer be seeing that smile," the statement read.
Riya was out with Rajkumar for her birthday when her mother received information from Roopesh "that gave her concern." Her mother then informed the police and a public alert was issued.
The police found Riya dead in Roopesh's home in Brampton, Ontario on Feb. 14.
Roopesh was arrested in Orillia, a city 130 kilometers (80 miles) north of Brampton, in a high-speed chase by the Ontario Provincial Police last week.