Toronto police on Friday identified the 10 people who died after a man plowed a white van through one of the busiest streets in the city earlier in the week.
Eight of the victims were women, and two were men, police said.
The victims' ages ranged from the mid-twenties to early nineties and included a vibrant 25-year-old, a beloved 80-year-old grandmother who adored sports, and a kindhearted 85-year-old man from Jordan who was visiting his son.
Two of the youngest victims were 22-year-old women: a student in Toronto who was from Korea and a foodie who was set to graduate from the University of Toronto this year.
The suspect in the incident, Alek Minassian, has been charged with 10 counts of first-degree murder and 13 counts of attempted murder.
Victims of Yonge Street Tragedy officially identified at press conference by Toronto Police Homicide Inspector Bryan Bott & Ontario Chief Coroner Dr Kirk Huyer. There are 8 females & 2 males. The last 2 names on the graphic are males. Watch on Youtube: https://t.co/jGYUwt0LJg ^sm https://t.co/Ek0HzTQ6pa
Anne Marie D’Amico, 30
Anne Marie D’Amico was an employee at Invesco, a US-based investment management firm, according to her Facebook profile. The company's Canadian headquarters is located on a street near where the pedestrians were struck.
A spokesperson for Toronto Councillor Cesar Palacio confirmed that D’Amico was among those killed Monday when a man drove a van into pedestrians on a sidewalk.
Palacio said in a city hall meeting Tuesday morning that there was nothing he could say or do to comfort the family, according to the Toronto Sun.
"The same applies to all the families," he said. "This unthinkable tragedy brings us all together as a single family."
D’Amico’s family described her as generous and loving in a statement to CityNews.
“She genuinely wanted to care for all those around her even if it meant sacrificing a portion of herself for others' happiness,” the family said. “She only had kindness in her.”
D'Amico had been voted "volunteer of the year of 2016" for her work with the Rogers Cup tennis tournament, the organization said.
A former coworker wrote on Facebook that she was “one of the best people” he had ever worked with, and another wrote that her “smile and positivity” would always be remembered.
D’Amico’s friend Brodie MacDonald wrote on Facebook that one of her fondest memories was of how D’Amico “schooled everyone at the pool table.”
“You did it with a smirk and no words, which made it even funnier as all of the cockiness out of some of the fellas slipped away quickly as you sunk ball after ball,” she wrote. “[A]s tears roll down my face thinking about the incredible person that you were, please know that you made a difference in so many peoples' lives."
Dorothy Sewell, 80
Dorothy Sewell was a beloved grandmother and great-grandmother who adored the Toronto Blue Jays and Leafs and was a retired Sears employee, said her grandson, Elwood Delaney.
"The best grandmother anyone could have asked for. Almost had as much love for the Blue Jays and Leafs as she did for her family," Delaney told BuzzFeed News.
Delaney shared a tribute to her on Facebook, posting photos of her in front of a Blue Jays flag.
"Your love for sports will always be with me while I cheer with you," he wrote. "Love you Nan."
Sewell was an athlete and adventure-seeker, said her friend, Cindy Sebestyen. She loved curling, skating, and Stars on Ice.
"She was a kind person and full of life," said Sebestyen, who bowled on the same team as the 80-year-old and knew her for about 15 years.
Sewell was one of the first people to complete the CN Tower EdgeWalk in Toronto, one of the world's tallest hands-free walks, 1,168 feet above the ground, Sebestyen shared.
On Facebook, others recalled her love of sports and the outdoors.
"Heartbroken," wrote Sebestyen's sister, Pamela Sebestyen-Yu.
Munir Najjar, 85
Munir Najjar, a Jordanian citizen, was in Toronto visiting his son before he was killed Monday, a family friend told BuzzFeed News, which was later confirmed by the Jordanian Embassy in Canada.
Najjar, who lives in Amman, travels to Toronto a few times a year with his wife to visit their son, Omar Najjar, said Kandoush Aleid, calling the father of two "a lovely, kind person and full of life."
"He liked to make jokes and laugh," she said, remembering one day last summer when Najjar visited her pastry shop and "was so excited about being in Canada and being able to spend time with his son."
The Jordanian Embassy in Canada issued a statement identifying Najjar, adding that he was in Toronto visiting his children and grandchildren.
"Jordan condemns in the strongest words all acts of violence perpetrated against innocent civilians and stands shoulder to shoulder with Canada in these testing times, as extremism and violence knows no creed, religion, nationality or gender," the statement reads.
Another friend told the Toronto Star that the family "wants to be alone at this time" and is "waiting for the coroner’s office to formally identify their father."
On Facebook, family and friends expressed shock and heartbreak over the loss of a "beautiful kind-hearted man."
Ahmad Kamleh said Najjar was like a second father to him and shared multiple tributes honoring Najjar, calling him a "peaceful man, a good father to your family and mine."
"Evil took you from us," Kamleh wrote, adding in another post, "I hope the hate that took you from us, will give us enough love."
Chul Min “Eddie” Kang, 45
Known as Eddie, Chul Min Kang was a passionate, affable chef in his early thirties, current and former employees of Toronto's Copacabana Brazilian Steakhouse, where he worked, told local media.
Kang, who was originally from South Korea, was a concept chef and had been working at Copacabana for six years, the Toronto Star reported.
“His smile would always light up the room,” Michael Rudan, who owns the restaurant, told the Star, describing the chef as “hardworking, loyal and salt of the earth.”
Kang was the executive chef of a new restaurant that is about to open in the next month, Rudan said, explaining that he had been working hard on the menu.
“He was an amazing chef. But he was an even more amazing person,” the owner continued.
Selwyn Joseph, one of Kang's friends and coworkers, told the Globe and Mail that the chef left behind a wife and “was a humble guy and was there for you with anything you need.”
Kang was also passionate about people, said Kevin Panlilio, who said he met the chef at an event a few years ago and the two became friends.
“His love and passion for food is nothing compared to his love and passion for people,” Panlilio said. “Especially his family, his wife.”
On Facebook, the filmmaker wrote a heartfelt tribute and expressed remorse that he didn't respond to his friend the last time he had reached out.
“He’s a great soul who loves food and loves people. He’s always wanted to hang out but I never responded. All I can feel right now is regret,” Panlilio wrote. “I’m crying right now because there were many chances we could have spent time together and talk about food and health and Korea and life. I'm crying right now cause all I can say is SORRY and it's too late.”
Renuka Amarasinghe, 45
Renuka Amarasinghe was a single mother of a 7-year-old boy and a member of Toronto's Sri Lankan community.
Amarasinghe worked in nutrition services for the Toronto District School Board at Earl Haig Secondary School, just a few minutes from the scene of Monday's attack. She had just finished her first day at the school when she was killed. Her death was confirmed by the TDSB in a statement as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka.
"On behalf of Trustees, we extend our sincere condolences to Renuka’s family and friends. This is a difficult time for the students and staff that knew her and we will continue to provide support to them in the days and weeks ahead," said trustee Robin Pilkey in a statement.
One of her coworkers, Frank Hong, wrote a long tribute to her on Facebook, touting her kindness and patience.
"was one of the kindest most thoughtful people I've ever met. In the utter chaos of the cafeteria, she brought calm and order," he said. "With many students shouting at her for food, she'd never get mad or frustrated. She did her job incredibly. When I see her, she'd always ask how my day was or greet me with a smile and say 'Hi dear.'"
Another person who knew her described her as "the most loving mother" on Facebook.
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to support Amarasinghe's son.
Mary Elizabeth "Betty" Forsyth, 94
Betty Forsyth lived in an apartment building for seniors on Yonge Street, according to the Toronto Star, who spoke to her nephew.
Rob Forsyth told the reporter that he had identified his aunt to the coroner, who is waiting to confirm her identity.
Her walker was found nearby her apartment building, he said. A neighbor told the Star that she often strolled on Yonge Street on her own.
“That was her thing,” the neighbor said. “She loved to feed the birds and the squirrels. She was coming home. She never travelled with anyone. That’s Betty.”
So He Chung, 22
So He Chung was studying cellular and molecular biology at the University of Toronto and was set to graduate sometime this year, according to her LinkedIn Profile.
“We are deeply saddened that a member of our community has died as a result of this terrible incident,” U of T President Meric Gertler said in a statement, though they have yet to confirm Chung's name. “We mourn the loss of our student and want those affected to know that they have the support of the university.
Her friends and co-workers remembered her as a sweet, genuine, person "whose loss can never be replaced."
Chung worked at an upscale department store as a sales associate and "was the best person,” one coworker told the Toronto Sun.
On Wednesday, Holt Renfrew, where she worked, hung a Canadian flag with the words #TorontoStrong printed boldly on the window beneath.
“Sohe, you are someone that I will never forget in all of my life, you were a best friend of mine whose loss can never be replaced," Cora Cianni, who said she went to high school with Chung," wrote on Facebook.
Jodi Yeung, another one of her childhood friend, told the National Post that she was “genuinely, really, really sweet.”
A foodie with an interest in fashion, she loved going to brunch and exploring new restaurants, Yeung recalled. Colorful photos of her food adventures dot her Facebook page, showcasing a young woman who traveled often and spent a lot of time with friends in Seoul.
She graduated from Loretto Abbey Catholic Secondary School in Toronto, the alumnae association wrote on Facebook, extending its "heartfelt sympathy" to her family.
Anne Marie D'Amico, another victim, also graduated from the high school.
Andrea Bradden, 33
Andrea Knafelc Bradden was an account executive at Gartner, a research and advisory company with its Toronto office located on Yonge Street. In a now-deleted company tribute blog post, Bradden was described as a joyful and positive person by the VP of Gartner Canada, Alex Falkingham.
"Andrea’s joyful energy brought smiles, happiness and laughter to everyone who was privileged to work with her and call her a friend," Falkingham wrote in the post, the Toronto Star reported. "She had the 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.”
Gartner representatives did not respond to BuzzFeed News' request for comment.
Bradden was a former student at Caledon East high school, Caledon's mayor Allan Thompson wrote in a Facebook post.
"My thoughts go out to the family, friends and former classmates of Andrea and all of the families affected by this tragedy," Thompson said.
Geraldine Brady, 83
Geraldine Brady worked for years as an Avon representative, according to her obituary. A friend, Feanny Xu, told the Star that Brady had still been "driving and actively delivering Avon orders" before her death.
Brady was the "most honest and kind person I ever met," Xu added to the National Post. In a Facebook post, Xu called Brady "my best #Avon helper!"
Stylist Pat Fortini told the Star that Brady came in for weekly appointments to have her hair done in a bob, and called her "a lovely lady."
Brady also was a "fabulous seamstress," according to her obituary, which also stated that she had two children, five grandchildren, and one great grandson.
Ji Hun Kim, 22
Ji was a student from South Korean who was living in Toronto, according to police.
Politician Raymond Cho told Global News that he had spoken with Kim's father since the attack.
“He couldn’t believe–he was very shocked … I asked the father if he could come here today. He said he’s not too sure. He’s too shaken,” Cho said.
“The sad part is she … is the only daughter, the only child, and she got killed here.”
This is a developing story and will be updated as more victims are identified. Check back for updates and follow BuzzFeed News on Twitter.
