Portraits of the 10 people killed after a rental van veered onto a Toronto sidewalk and drove into pedestrians are slowly emerging as loved ones and officials identify the victims.
So far, 麻豆影视 has learned the names of four victims: Anne Marie D鈥橝mico, a Toronto woman who family said 鈥渙nly had kindness in her鈥�; Munir Abdo Habib Najjar, a Jordanian man who was visiting family in the city; Chul Min 鈥淓ddie鈥� Kang, a chef known for his passion in the kitchen; and Dorothy Sewell, a beloved grandmother known for sharing her love of sports.
Two other victims have been identified, but not named, including a South Korean national and a female Seneca College student. Another South Korean was 鈥渟eriously injured鈥� in the deadly attack, according to South Korean media reports.
Police have not released the names of the victims, and Ontario鈥檚 chief coroner said it will take several days before officials can identify the deceased.
However, at a press conference on Tuesday, police said those killed and injured were 鈥減redominantly women.鈥�
Two fundraisers have emerged to help support the victims and their families.
to raise money for the victims鈥� funeral expenses has been established by Canada Zakat, a Muslim-Canadian non-profit organization that collected more than $800,000 for the victims and families of the Quebec mosque shooting in 2017. As of Tuesday afternoon, the campaign has raised more than $100,000 of its $1 million target.
The City of Toronto called the #TorontoStrong Fund. Money raised will provide emotional support and assistance to help cover emergency expenses for survivors, their families, families of the victims, and for witnesses and their families.
An 'incredible human being鈥�
The family of Anne Marie D鈥橝mico said she had a 鈥済enerous heart鈥� and always did 鈥渂ig things鈥� for people.
鈥淪he genuinely wanted to care for all those around her even if it meant sacrificing a portion of herself in return for others' happiness. She only had kindness in her,鈥� her family said in a statement released on Tuesday.
The family said they鈥檙e comforted by the fact that the world has been given the opportunity to learn from D鈥橝mico.
鈥淗er name has been broadcasted around the world, attached to this terrible tragedy. But we want everyone to know that she embodied the definition of altruism,鈥� the statement read. 鈥淲e hope that in this time, people fight with the same altruism rather than anger and hatred.鈥�
D鈥橝mico worked at Invesco, a U.S.-based investment management firm, which had its Canadian headquarters in North York, a source confirmed to CP24. On Monday, the company said in a statement that two of its employees were injured during the incident.
On Tuesday morning, the president of Invesco Canada confirmed to 麻豆影视 that one of their staff members had died.
鈥淥ur thoughts and prayers continue to be with all those impacted by this tragic event,鈥� Peter Intraligi said in an emailed statement. 鈥淚 can now confirm that unfortunately one of our employees has succumbed to her injuries. Out of respect for her and her family, we will not be providing any further comments.鈥�
Toronto Coun. Cesar Palacio identified D鈥橝mico as one of the victims in the attack during a council meeting at city hall on Tuesday. He said he鈥檚 been in contact with her parents, who are his constituents. Palacio also said that D鈥橝mico had a brother and a sister.
Abdullah Snobar, the executive director of Ryerson University鈥檚 Digital Media Zone, knew D鈥橝mico through the student groups she was involved in while she was studying there. He described D鈥橝mico as a 鈥渟hining light鈥� who represented the best of Canadians.
鈥淎nne Marie was an incredible, incredible human being. One of the most happiest and cheerful people you will ever meet,鈥� . 鈥淚 had the privilege of being around her for many years and never did I see her down or sad, [she was] usually the one that was lifting people up to find their best and be their best.鈥�
He said that he believes she was approximately 29 years old when she died and that she graduated from the school in 2010.
鈥淸She was] an individual that we constantly talked about as a person that the country and the city needed more people like,鈥� Snobar said. 鈥淎n incredible human being that we all dearly loved and already miss.鈥�
D鈥橝mico also worked at the Canadian charity Live Different as well as for the Badminton and Racquet Club of Toronto, according to a Facebook profile believed to belong to her.
Tennis Canada said that D鈥橝mico had worked at the Rogers Cup since she was 12 years old. In a statement released Tuesday, the organization said she started out working as a ball girl and worked her way up to become an 鈥渋ntegral part鈥� of the volunteer team. In her most recent role, she served as committee head of stadium control while she also worked at Invesco, the statement said.
鈥淪he was always smiling, had the biggest heart and always put other people鈥檚 needs ahead of her own,鈥� Tennis Canada said.
D鈥橝mico was voted Tennis Canada鈥檚 volunteer of the year in 2016.
鈥淗er passion for Rogers Cup was contagious and we are honoured to let the world know what an amazing person she was and the great things she did for others,鈥� Gavin Ziv, the vice president of professional events at Tennis Canada, said in the statement.
Tennis Canada also said that D鈥橝mico鈥檚 grandmother, mother, father and brother have all volunteered for the organization over the years.
Chef with 鈥榓 passion for cooking鈥�
Chul Min 鈥淓ddie鈥� Kang, a chef at a restaurant in Toronto鈥檚 downtown core, was remembered by his colleagues on Tuesday.
Armando Sandobal worked alongside Kang in the kitchen for four years.
鈥淗e had a passion for food. He had a passion for cooking,鈥� Sandobal said, adding that he was 鈥渁ngry鈥� by the news.
鈥淚 feel bad because he (Kang) was my partner, we worked together and then this happened.鈥�
The Copacabana Brazilian Steakhouse, located at Adelaide and Duncan, issued a statement expressing 鈥済reat sadness鈥� over Kang鈥檚 death.
鈥淗e will be deeply missed by all who knew him,鈥� said corporate director John Paul Mannella in the statement.
鈥楲ove you Nan鈥�
Among the victims was 80-year-old Dorothy Sewell, whose grandson Elwood Delaney posted photos of her on Facebook alongside a Toronto Blue Jays flag and a lit candle.
In the post, Delaney expressed anger at the attacker, saying that he had to tell his three children that they鈥檒l no longer get to talk to 鈥淣an鈥� on their birthdays or Christmas.
鈥淚 love you Dorothy Sewell,鈥� he wrote. 鈥淵ou will always be loved and your love for sports will always be with me while I cheer with you. Go Toronto Go. Love you Nan.鈥�
Information has also emerged about several unnamed victims. Here鈥檚 what we know about them so far:
Father visiting Canada
The Jordanian foreign ministry, quoted by local media, says that a Jordanian man has been identified as one of the van attack victims. He was visiting his son who lives in Toronto, according to the reports.
Speaking with 麻豆影视, the Jordanian Embassy identified the victim as Munir Abdo Habib Najjar.
Information has also emerged about several unnamed victims. Here鈥檚 what we know about them so far:
Two South Koreans
Two South Koreans are dead and another one 鈥渟eriously injured鈥� in the deadly attack, according to South Korea鈥檚 Yonhap News Agency.
The Seoul government announced that two South Koreans were fatally injured in the incident, the paper said. Officials said efforts were underway to find out the exact condition of the injured person.
鈥淭he foreign ministry has taken necessary steps, including contacting the families of the victims, and plans to provide relevant consular support in case the families want to visit there,鈥� an official was quoted as saying.
The paper also reported that three other South Koreans have been unaccounted for in the aftermath of the attack.
A college student
A female student of Seneca College, located in Toronto, was also killed in the incident, according to a statement from the school.
鈥淭he Seneca community is deeply saddened by the horrific attack on Yonge Street yesterday. Our thoughts are with all those affected, including the family and friends of one of our students who died as a result of the tragic incident,鈥� the statement read.
Victims are 鈥榩redominantly female鈥�
Speaking to reporters at a press conference Tuesday afternoon, Toronto police Det. Sgt. Graham Gibson said the victims were 鈥減redominately female鈥� and ranged in age from the mid-20s to 80s.
Chief Coroner for Ontario Dr. Dirk Huyer said authorities are currently working to confirm the identities of the deceased.
Fourteen people were also hurt in the incident.
A growing memorial with candles, flowers and messages of support has been set up along a wall on the east side of Yonge Street where the attack began.
The incident occurred around 1:30 p.m. on Monday, when a white rental van mounted a busy stretch of sidewalk on Yonge St., just south of Finch Ave., hitting numerous pedestrians as it drove southbound.
Shortly after, Alek Minassian, 25, of Richmond Hill, Ont., was arrested in connection with the incident after a brief standoff with police. He has been charged with 10 counts of first-degree murder and 13 counts of attempted murder.
Police are still investigating any motive connected to the attack.
Police allege that the suspect posted a 鈥渃ryptic鈥� Facebook message minutes before carrying out the attack.
The post, which appeared on the account for a user named Alek Minassian, includes references to 鈥渢he incel rebellion.鈥� Experts say the term 鈥渋ncel鈥� refers to men who are involuntarily celibate.
The post also says 鈥淲e will overthrow all the Chads and Stacys!鈥� According to University of Toronto sociology professor Judith Taylor, 鈥淐hads鈥� are considered 鈥渟ocially successful men鈥� and 鈥淪tacys鈥� are 鈥渨omen who are withholding their sexual opportunities from men.鈥�
Facebook told 麻豆影视 that the post appears to have been made from the suspect鈥檚 account, which the company has since shut down. 麻豆影视 cannot conclusively confirm that Minassian himself wrote the post.
With files from CP24 and The Canadian Press
