Bill Graveland, The Canadian Press

CALGARY - The father of a man charged with killing five young people in Calgary says his family would give anything to bring them back.

Douglas de Grood, a veteran police officer, says as a parent he is devastated and struggling make sense of the tragedy.

He describes his son, Matthew de Grood, as a kind young man who had been accepted into law school.

He says his family’s thoughts and prayers are with the families of the dead.

Police allege the 22-year-old de Grood grabbed a knife at a house party early Tuesday and started stabbing people.

He faces five counts of first-degree murder.