Single mother of 1 identified as among dead in Toronto van attack

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Single mother of 1 identified as among dead in Toronto van attack
More victims are being identified by family, friends and employers after Monday’s deadly van attack on Toronto’s Yonge Street.
Renuka Amarasinghe, who worked at Toronto District School Board, died in Monday's attack
CBC News · Posted: Apr 25, 2018 11:49 AM ET | Last Updated: 18 minutes ago

Families are starting to confirm the names of the 10 people killed in Monday's van attack, but the coroner said it could be days before the names of the dead are confirmed by officials. (Saul Porto/Reuters)

A single mother of a young son is the latest person to be identified as a victim of Monday's van attack in Toronto.

Renuka Amarasinghe was one of 10 people killed when a white rental van mounted the curb of busy Yonge Street and drove forward, striking pedestrians, friends said. She was a Toronto District School Board employee.

The accused driver, 25-year-old Alek Minassian, faces 10 counts of first-degree murder and 13 counts of attempted murder.

Due to the complexity of the investigation, Ontario's chief coroner Dr. Dirk Huyer said Tuesday it will be several days before his team officially confirms victims' identities.

But family, friends and employers have begun reaching out to news outlets and posting online about the people who have died.

Renuka Amarasinghe
Renuka Amarasinghe was confirmed by friends and her employer, the Toronto District School Board, to have been killed on Wednesday morning.

She was the single mother to a young son, and worked at the TDSB.

Anne Marie D'Amico
Anne Marie D'Amico was the first victim to be identified, one day after Monday's attack.

She worked at a U.S-based investment management firm called Invesco whose headquarters are close to the stretch of Yonge where the attack took place.

Anne Marie D'Amico, who worked for an investment management firm, was one of 10 people killed in the van attack on Monday afternoon in Toronto. (Facebook)

She has been described by a co-worker as "full of life, loved to travel, loved to help volunteer."

Her family also released a statement saying she had a "a generous heart" and "always did big things for people."

Dorothy Sewell
Dorothy Sewell was on her way to the bank when she was killed.

The 80-year-old spent years working for Sears and volunteered helping other seniors.

Dorothy Sewell, 80, was an avid sports fan and never missed a Blue Jays game, her grandson said Tuesday. (Elwood Delaney)

Her grandson, Elwood Delaney, said she was the "best grandma you could ask for" and had an endless love for sports, especially the Blue Jays and the Maple Leafs.

Other victims confirmed by governments
Two governments, South Korea and Jordan, say they lost citizens in the attack.

Media in Jordan are citing government sources as saying the Jordanian citizen who died was Munir Najjar, who was in Toronto visiting his son.

Meanwhile, the South Korean Foreign Affairs Ministry has confirmed to South Korean media outlets that two nationals were killed.

CBC News has not independently verified that reporting.

5 of injured still in critical condition
Documents from Minassian's Tuesday court appearance obtained by CBC News identified 13 of the 14 injured.

Minassian is expected to be charged with a 14th count of attempted murder, pending some "followup investigations," according to Toronto police Det. Sgt. Graham Gibson.

The injured identified so far are Sammantha Samson, Samantha Peart, Morgan McDougall, Mavis Justino, Catherine Riddell, Aleksandra Kozhevinikova, Amir Kiumarsi, Yunsheng Tian, Jun Seok Park, Amaresh Tesfamariam, So Ra, Beverly Smith and Robert Anderson.

On Wednesday, Sunnybrook Hospital told CBC News that five of the 14 injured remain in critical condition, while three are in serious condition.

 

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Single mother of 1 identified as among dead in Toronto van attack
More victims are being identified by family, friends and employers after Monday’s deadly van attack on Toronto’s Yonge Street.
Renuka Amarasinghe, who worked at Toronto District School Board, died in Monday's attack
CBC News · Posted: Apr 25, 2018 11:49 AM ET | Last Updated: 18 minutes ago

Families are starting to confirm the names of the 10 people killed in Monday's van attack, but the coroner said it could be days before the names of the dead are confirmed by officials. (Saul Porto/Reuters)

A single mother of a young son is the latest person to be identified as a victim of Monday's van attack in Toronto.

Renuka Amarasinghe was one of 10 people killed when a white rental van mounted the curb of busy Yonge Street and drove forward, striking pedestrians, friends said. She was a Toronto District School Board employee.

The accused driver, 25-year-old Alek Minassian, faces 10 counts of first-degree murder and 13 counts of attempted murder.

Due to the complexity of the investigation, Ontario's chief coroner Dr. Dirk Huyer said Tuesday it will be several days before his team officially confirms victims' identities.

But family, friends and employers have begun reaching out to news outlets and posting online about the people who have died.

Renuka Amarasinghe
Renuka Amarasinghe was confirmed by friends and her employer, the Toronto District School Board, to have been killed on Wednesday morning.

She was the single mother to a young son, and worked at the TDSB.

Anne Marie D'Amico
Anne Marie D'Amico was the first victim to be identified, one day after Monday's attack.

She worked at a U.S-based investment management firm called Invesco whose headquarters are close to the stretch of Yonge where the attack took place.

Anne Marie D'Amico, who worked for an investment management firm, was one of 10 people killed in the van attack on Monday afternoon in Toronto. (Facebook)

She has been described by a co-worker as "full of life, loved to travel, loved to help volunteer."

Her family also released a statement saying she had a "a generous heart" and "always did big things for people."

Dorothy Sewell
Dorothy Sewell was on her way to the bank when she was killed.

The 80-year-old spent years working for Sears and volunteered helping other seniors.

Dorothy Sewell, 80, was an avid sports fan and never missed a Blue Jays game, her grandson said Tuesday. (Elwood Delaney)

Her grandson, Elwood Delaney, said she was the "best grandma you could ask for" and had an endless love for sports, especially the Blue Jays and the Maple Leafs.

Other victims confirmed by governments
Two governments, South Korea and Jordan, say they lost citizens in the attack.

Media in Jordan are citing government sources as saying the Jordanian citizen who died was Munir Najjar, who was in Toronto visiting his son.

Meanwhile, the South Korean Foreign Affairs Ministry has confirmed to South Korean media outlets that two nationals were killed.

CBC News has not independently verified that reporting.

5 of injured still in critical condition
Documents from Minassian's Tuesday court appearance obtained by CBC News identified 13 of the 14 injured.

Minassian is expected to be charged with a 14th count of attempted murder, pending some "followup investigations," according to Toronto police Det. Sgt. Graham Gibson.

The injured identified so far are Sammantha Samson, Samantha Peart, Morgan McDougall, Mavis Justino, Catherine Riddell, Aleksandra Kozhevinikova, Amir Kiumarsi, Yunsheng Tian, Jun Seok Park, Amaresh Tesfamariam, So Ra, Beverly Smith and Robert Anderson.

On Wednesday, Sunnybrook Hospital told CBC News that five of the 14 injured remain in critical condition, while three are in serious condition.

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A look at the victims of the Toronto van attack
CTVNews.ca Staff
Published Wednesday, April 25, 2018 6:14AM EDT
Last Updated Wednesday, April 25, 2018 11:55AM EDT

An 80-year-old woman who loved the Toronto Blue Jays, a steakhouse chef, and the single mother of a young boy are among the dead after a driver swerved a rental van onto a busy Yonge Street sidewalk and began mowing down pedestrians Monday afternoon.

Here is what we know so far about those who died:

Anne Marie D’Amico

D’Amico worked at the Canadian headquarters for the U.S.-based investment management firm Invesco on Yonge Street, and was actively involved in sports and charity.

She was voted Tennis Canada’s volunteer of the year in 2016, and worked for the Badminton and Racquet Club of Toronto and the Canadian charity Live Different, according to a Facebook profile believed to belong to her.

"She 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," her family said in a statement April 24.

D’Amico attended Ryerson University for a time, graduating in 2010, according to Abdullah Snobar, the executive director of the Digital Media Zone there. He called her a "shining light" and "an incredible human being that we all dearly loved and already miss."

"One of the most happiest and cheerful people you will ever meet," he told CTV News Channel on Tuesday. "I 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."

Renuka Amarasinghe

Amarasinghe was a single mother of a young son.

CTV News has confirmed she was a member of Toronto’s Sri Lankan community. A GoFundMe crowdfunding campaign has been set up to support her son.

Amarasinghe worked for the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) as a nutrition services staff member, most recently at a public school in the city’s east end.

“We extend our sincere condolences to Renuka’s family and friends,” TDSB chair Robin Pilkey wrote in a statement on Wednesday. “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.”

Munir Abed Alnajjar

Alnajjar was the father of a Jordanian-Canadian citizen. His son is a vocalist and a director of the Arab Canadian Orchestra.

CTV News has confirmed that Alnajjar was in his 70s. His son, Omar Al-Najjar, is said to be mourning with his family.

Alnajjar’s body has not been released to the family. His body may be transported back to Jordan for a funeral.

The Jordanian Canadian Society condemned Monday’s attack and affirmed its support for the victims.

Chul Min "Eddie" Kang

Kang was a chef at Toronto’s Copacabana Brazilian Steakhouse. The restaurant issued a statement Tuesday expressing their “great sadness” in his passing.

"He will be deeply missed by all who knew him," said corporate director John Paul Mannella in the statement.

Armando Sandobal was Kang’s coworker for four years in Toronto kitchens.

"He had a passion for food. He had a passion for cooking," Sandobal said, adding that he was "angry" about the news. "I feel bad because he (Kang) was my partner, we worked together and then this happened."

Dorothy Sewell, 80

To her grandson Elwood Delaney, 80-year-old Dorothy Sewell will be remembered as an avid sports fan. In a passionate Facebook post Tuesday, Delaney shared an image of three photos of her next to 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’ll no longer get to talk to "Nan" on their birthdays or Christmas.

"I love you Dorothy Sewell," he wrote. "You 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."