Toronto: City and a reluctant hero recovering from rampage

Constable Ken Lam, left,  at his graduation from the police academy seven years ago. In his son's honor, Lam's father, David, wore his his uniform as a former officer with the Hong Kong Police.

ASAM NEWS

A RELUCTANT HERO, grieving families -- both part of a tragic story after a man in a rental van mowed down pedestrians in Toronto.

When it was all over, ten people were dead, 13 injured in the incident on Monday (April 22).

The rampage may be over, but the grieving for all the victims, including at least three Asian families, will continue for some time.

Among those fatalities that have been identified are Soho Chung, 23; Renuka Amarasinghe, 48; and Chul Min Eddie Kang,

The police officer being hailed as a hero for arresting the suspect is Ken Lam.

The Toronto Police Officer confronted the suspect who seemed to be encouraging Lam to shoot him, but instead of firing, Lam calmed the suspect before arresting Alek Minassian, 25, without further incident.

Lam, 42,  is not being allowed to speak to media himself because as a key witness, Lam could be required to testify in court and anything he might say could be used as evidence in open court, said Toronto Police Deputy Peter Yuen in a Thursday (April 26) press conference.

“He wants to thank the public, and he wants the public not to call him a hero,” Yuen said. “He’s officer Ken Lam. He’s real. He’s got a badge. He’s not a hero. We all came to work to do the right thing and that’s why all of us became police officers.”

According to Newsweek, Minassian can be heard yelling “Kill me.”

Minassian warns Lam that he has a gun in his pocket, but Lam responds “I don’t care.” Lam holstered his own firearem and approaches the suspect and that’s when the suspect gives himself up by lying facedown on the ground while he is being handcuffed.

Mark Saunders, Toronto's police chief, credited the force’s high calibre of training.

“The officer did a fantastic job with respect to utilizing his ability of understanding the circumstance and environment and having a peaceful resolution at the end of the day,” he said.

Toronto victims, from left: Sohe Chung, Renuka Amarasinghe and Chul Ming Eddie Kang

According to the Star, Sohe Chung is a student at the University of Toronto.

“She’s an amazing friend and everyone did love her. Everyone is absolutely in shock,” said high school friend Cora Cianni.

Renuka Amarasinghe is a single mother of a seven year old who worked at the Toronto School District as a nutritionist.

“She (was) a very kind and generous lady. She devoted her time for the child,” said Ahangama Rathanasiri Thero of the Toronto Mahavihara Buddhist Meditation Centre in Scarborough. “She made the effort to raise that child in a good manner.”

A Go Fund Me page set up for the child has raised $282,000.

Chul Ming Eddie Kang worked at a Brazilian steak house. He was preparing to open an affiliated Peruvian restaurant.

“This was his station,” Milan Kalkan, the Copacabana general manager said Wednesday evening, on a tour of the now empty restaurant. “This was all Eddie. His passion was in the kitchen” at the makeshift memorial in the restaurant's kitchen.

Constable Lam, who immigrated to Canada with his parents from Hong Kong 40 years ago, is taking part in an post-traumatic care program, a mandatory program for officers who experience traumatic experiences.

Lam was in good spirits, according to Yuen, who spoke to Lam Wednesday morning, but Tuesday was a difficult one. Yuen explained he had been through a similar traumatic experience 30 years ago, and knows that there are good days and bad days and it will take a while for Lam to recover.

Yuen says that Lam expressed feeling anxiety, sleeplessness and sometimes woke up in cold sweats.

Among the things Lam is currently grappling with is whether he made the right decision and what might have happened if he had opened fire.

“I’m happy he was safe. I’m proud of him, to do a good job. Well done,” said David Lam, Ken Lam's father, who is a former Hong Kong police officer,in an interview with Canadian television network Global.

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On Sunday (April 29) at 7 p.m. there will also be a #TorontoStrong vigil in Mel Lastman Square to remember the victims of the attack.

Mayor John Tory said the #TorontoStrong fund goal is $2 million to be shared with the families of the victims. As of today (April 27), the fund has raised $1.2 million with donations coming from around the world.

Those wising to contribute to the can do so here. Donations can now also be made by texting “Toronto” to 80100. After texting 80100, donors will receive a text asking them to indicate the amount they wish to donate, as well as a confirmation text.

(Views From the Edge contributed additional reporting to update the AsAm News story.)

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