Victims of Toronto van attack identified
Chief coroner released names of 8 women and 2 men
TORONTO — The victims of this week’s van attack in Toronto include eight women and two men, authorities said Friday as they released their identities and announced more charges against the man arrested in connection with the incident.
Dr. Dirk Huyer, the chief coroner for Ontario, said the victims range in age from 22 to 94 years old, and include two foreign nationals — a student from South Korea and a man from Jordan who was visiting family in Toronto.
“This was a very complex tragedy, continues to involve significant steps of investigation, and given the events and circumstances, we undertook scientific efforts to confirm and ensure all the proper identifications,” Huyer said.
Huyer said his office has spoken with the families of all 10 people killed.
Alek Minassian, 25, of Richmond Hill is facing 10 counts of first-degree murder and 13 counts of attempted murder in connection with the Monday incident, which also left 16 people injured.
Police said Friday investigators have identified more people who were injured in the attack and expect to file three additional attempted-murder charges against Minassian at his next court hearing, set for May 10.
Insp. Bryan Bott said investigators have interviewed more than 170 witnesses so far and have more than 100 remaining. Police have also searched Minassian’s home and seized several items, Bott said.
Here’s what we know so far about the victims:
Renuka Amarasingha Amarasingha was an active member of Toronto’s Sri Lankan community. A monk at a Toronto Buddhist temple Amarasingha frequented said she was a single mother of a seven-year-old boy.
Ahangama Rathanasiri said Amarasingha attended regular services at the temple and brought cookies to Sunday school students every week.
The Toronto District School Board said she had worked as a nutrition services staff member for the board since 2015.
They said Amarasingha had just finished her first day of work at Earl Haig Secondary School when she was killed Monday. Andrea Bradden
Bradden, a 33-year-old from Woodbridge, worked as an account executive at the Toronto offices of Gartner, an international research and advisory company. A spokesperson for Gartner said the company would not issue a statement at the family’s request.
According to local newspaper the Caledon Enterprise, however, a condolence blog post briefly shared to the company’s website prompted glowing tributes from her colleagues.
“Andrea’s joyful energy brought smiles, happiness and laughter to everyone who was privileged to work with her and call her a friend,” area vice-president Alex Falkingham reportedly wrote in the post. “She had an uncanny ability to make any room she walked into a more positive place, with laughter filling the room. When Andrea smiled, everyone smiled with her.”
Geraldine Brady
Police said Brady was an 83year-old from Toronto.
Anne Marie D’Amico D’Amico worked at Invesco Canada, a U.S.-based investment firm with offices near the scene of the attack, and was remembered by those who knew her as a cheerful, friendly person.
Tennis Canada said D’Amico had volunteered at its marquis Rogers Cup tournament every summer since the age of 12, starting out as a “ball girl” and eventually heading its stadium control committee.
D’Amico had attended Ryerson University in Toronto and a fellow alumni remembered her as an active student leader with top grades, a wide social circle and an indelible smile.
“Whether you kept in touch with her very closely or you didn’t talk to her for this past year, it just felt like you saw her smile yesterday,” Abdullah Snobar said.
The Loretto Alumnae Association president Maureen Harquail said D’Amico was one of two victims killed in the attack who attended Loretto Abbey Catholic Secondary School.
Sohe Chung
The Loretto Alumnae Association said Chung was the other alumnae of the school who died in the Toronto van attack.
“This was a tragic and senseless event that resulted in the loss of two bright, young Loretto Abbey graduates,” association president Maureen Harquail said. “We mourn their passing and will remember the impact that they had on us and on our community.”
Chung was also a student at the University of Toronto, the association said.
The university had confirmed one of its students was among the deceased, but did not release a name.
“We are deeply saddened that a member of our community has died as a result of this terrible incident,” university president Meric Gertler said. “We mourn the loss of our student and want those affected to know that they have the support of the university.”
Mary Elizabeth (Betty) Forsyth
Forsyth was a resident of a Toronto Community Housing complex in the area where the van attack occurred. A neighbour said Forsyth’s nephew called her to say she had died.
Mary Hunt described Forsyth — who she said was in her 90s — as a “lively person” who loved to feed the birds and squirrels on her regular walks through the neighbourhood.
“Everybody knew Betty because she used to walk in the morning to feed the animals,” she said.
Chul Min (Eddie) Kang
Kang, who worked at the Copacabana Brazilian Steakhouse in downtown Toronto, was identified by co-workers as one of the victims.
Joao Barbosa wrote on Facebook that Kang’s “daily happiness” was being missed at the restaurant.
“It’s unbelievable that we lost you Eddie,” he wrote. “In our last encounter you called me ’Amor mio’ smiling to me when I arrived at Copacabana ... Rest in peace.”
Mailee Ly, another co-worker, remembered Kang as a warm, friendly presence at the restaurant.
“It hurts knowing I won’t be able to see your bright smile every weekend, or hear you say ‘Hi’ to everyone in your energetic voice,” she wrote on Facebook.
Ji Hun Kim
Authorities said the 22-yearold was a student from South Korea who was studying in Toronto.
Munir Najjar
Alnajjar, a Jordanian citizen in his 70s, was visiting his family in Toronto with his wife. He had only been in the country for a couple of weeks when the van attack took place, according to Harry Malawi, a family friend and president of the Jordanian Canadian Society.
Dorothy Sewell
Sewell’s death was confirmed by her grandson, Elwood Delaney, of Kamloops, B.C.
Delaney described his 80-yearold grandmother as an avid sports fan who “almost had as much love for the Blue Jays and Leafs as she did for her family.”
“(She was) the best grandmother anyone could have asked for,” he said.