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These Are The Victims Of The Toronto Van Attack

Police have identified all 10 of the people killed in Monday's attack.
Renuka Amarasinghe, Dorothy Sewell, and Anne Marie D'Amico (left to right) were among the victims killed after a rampage in Toronto's Yonge and Finch area on April 23, 2018.
Facebook/Tennis Canada
Renuka Amarasinghe, Dorothy Sewell, and Anne Marie D'Amico (left to right) were among the victims killed after a rampage in Toronto's Yonge and Finch area on April 23, 2018.

2018 was a year full of challenging stories, and as it ends, we're re-sharing some of the most important ones, along with our readers.

Happy holidays to you and yours, and wishing you a good start to 2019.

This story was last updated April 29, 2018.

A deadly attack that saw a white van plow into pedestrians on Toronto's busy Yonge Street left at least 10 people dead and another 16 injured.

Alek Minassian of Richmond Hill, Ont. has been charged with 10 counts of first-degree murder and 13 counts of attempted murder. Authorities expect more attempted murder charges after they learned of people who came forward with injuries but did not go to hospital.

Here's what we know about the 10 fatalities:

Ji Hun Kim

Originally from South Korea, Ji Hun Kim, 22, had been studying at Seneca College in Toronto.

At a a vigil organized by the Korean Canadian Cultural Association, Raymond Cho, the MPP for Scarborough–Rouge River, told Global News that Kim's father is "shaken" over the death of his only child.

Geraldine Brady

R S Kane Funeral Home

Known as Gerry to her family and friends, Geraldine Brady, 83, was a grandmother and a talented seamstress.

She sold Avon products for more than 45 years and was still doing field sales up until her death, her friend and fellow Avon salesperson Feanny Xu said.

They met about 14 years ago at a conference and later started working as a team, Xu said, adding she believed Brady was visiting customers in the area when she was killed.

"She was very honest and caring for others," Xu said. "She is wonderful. It's so sad."

Brady leaves behind two children, five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Andrea Bradden

Twitter

Andrea Bradden, 33, was from Woodbridge and worked as an account executive for the company Gartner, according to Global News.

"Andrea's joyful energy brought smiles, happiness and laughter to everyone who was privileged to work with her and call her a friend," Alex Falkingham, area vice-president of Gartner Canada, wrote in a company condolences blog, the Caledon Enterprise reported.

"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."

Bradden graduated from Robert F. Hall Catholic Secondary School in Caledon, Ont. in 2003.

Sohe Chung

Sohe Chung/LinkedIn

Sohe Chung, 22, was studying molecular biology at the University of Toronto, and also worked as a sales specialist at Holt Renfrew, reported student newspaper The Varsity. She belonged to the U of T's Korean Students' Association.

"We are deeply saddened that a member of our community has died as a result of this terrible incident," university president Meric Gertler said in a release.

Holt Renfrew employees told CTV Toronto store management informed them of Chung's death.

Chung graduated from Loretto Abbey Catholic Secondary School in Toronto. The school's alumni association posted on Facebook about her death.

A card with Chung's name on it was placed among the flowers at Olive Square, according to CP24.

"You will always be remembered for your wonderful heart and kind soul," it said.

Chul Min (Eddie) Kang

Facebook

Chul Min Kang, 45, worked at the Copacabana Brazilian Steakhouse ever since he immigrated to Canada from South Korea a few years ago, the Globe and Mail reported.

"I just felt so bad and so shocked that it happened to him," co-worker Selwyn Joseph said. "He's really a humble guy and was there for you with anything you need."

Mary Elizabeth (Betty) Forsyth

A photo of Betty Forsyth is shown at a vigil on Yonge Street in Toronto.
THE CANADIAN PRESS
A photo of Betty Forsyth is shown at a vigil on Yonge Street in Toronto.

Betty Forsyth, 94, lived in 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 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 in the morning to feed the animals," she said.

"I will miss her," the 84-year-old said of Forsyth, who had been her neighbour for more than 10 years.

Beutis Renuka Amarasinghe

Facebook

Described online as a kind-hearted person, Amarasinghe, 45, was a single mom from Sri Lanka, and leaves behind a 7-year-old son, Diyon.

A GoFundMe has been set up for Diyon to cover his expenses and future education.

Amarasingha worked for the Toronto District School Board. In a press release, school staff extended their condolences to Amarasinghe'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," board chair Robin Pilkey said.

Dorothy Sewell

Elwood Delaney/Facebook

Dorothy Sewell, 80, was identified by her grandson as one of the fatalities.

She was "the best grandmother anyone could have asked for," Elwood Delaney told HuffPost Canada in a Facebook message. "Almost had as much love for the [Toronto] Blue Jays and Leafs as she did for her family."

He added in a public Facebook post: "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."

Munir Abdo Habib Najjar

Jordan's embassy in Ottawa confirmed to HuffPost that one of its citizen was killed.

Munir Najjar, an 85-year-old father and grandfather, was in Toronto visiting family when he was struck by the van, the embassy said in a statement.

Najjar's positive attitude made him special, according to a statement provided to HuffPost by a family friend who asked not to be named.

"Throughout his life, Munir was blessed with a big heart that was filled with love for everyone near and far, and with an unparalleled love of life that was infectious to those who knew him or met him. His welcoming smile and his warm embrace will be remembered by many for a long long time."

Najjar's way of life "triumphed" on the day he died, the statement said, "a day that has shown us how love conquers hate ... a day when people from all walks of life came together to comfort and console on another."

Anne Marie D'Amico

Facebook

Anne Marie D'Amico reportedly worked at Invesco, a U.S.-based investment firm. One of their Canadian offices is located at 5140 Yonge St., between Finch Avenue and Sheppard Avenue.

Friends of D'Amico remembered her as a "genuine, kind hearted person" who was "always smiling."

D'Amico, 30, began volunteering at the Rogers Cup tournament when she was 12 as a ball girl and went on to bigger volunteer roles, said Tennis Canada.

"The tournament was such a large part of her life and we were so lucky to have her on our team each summer. Her 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," said a statement from the organization.

A photograph of Anne Marie D'Amico is shown at a vigil on April 24, 2018 in Toronto.
Cole Burston via Getty Images
A photograph of Anne Marie D'Amico is shown at a vigil on April 24, 2018 in Toronto.

In statement shared by CityNews anchor Danielle Michaud, D'Amico's family said she "always did big things for people."

They continued: "She wouldn't stop until she went the extra mile for others and that was manifested in her loving attention to detail. 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."

Wanted to share this statement from the D'Amico family on Anne Marie because it so beautifully describes the kind of person she was. More importantly, they ask us to 'fight with that same altruism, rather than hatred and anger' ❤️ @CityNews#TorontoTheGoodpic.twitter.com/OEONdpdh7c

— Danielle Michaud (@CityMichaud) April 24, 2018

During Minassian's court appearance, the names of some of the injured were distributed in court. He is charged with the attempted murder of: Sammantha Samson, Samantha Peart, Morgan McDougall, Mavis Justino, Catherine Riddell, Aleksandra Kozhevinikova, Amir Kiumarsi, Yunsheng Tian, Jun Seok Park, Amaresh Tesfamariam, So Ra, and Beverly Smith.

On Friday, police said two more people were among the injured: a 21-year-old male and 67-year-old female.

Amaresh Tesfamariam

Menab Tesfamariam is seen in a photo with his aunt Amaresh, who he described on GoFundMe as "almost like a second mom."
GOFUNDME
Menab Tesfamariam is seen in a photo with his aunt Amaresh, who he described on GoFundMe as "almost like a second mom."

Toronto nurse Amaresh Tesfamariam is in critical condition at Sunnybrook Hospital, her nephew Menab Tesfamariam told Global News on Tuesday.

"It's just really hard to see that something like this would happen to her, for someone who's so happy and joyous," he said.

Tesfamariam launched a GoFundMe for his aunt, who he said has injuries to her spine. He said she is an elderly woman who lives on her own, and will need help with expenses going forward.

"She will not be able to work for a quite long period of time as were [sic] being told right now," he wrote.

Amir Kiumarsi

LinkedIn

Amir Kiumarsi, a chemistry lecturer at Ryerson University, is one of the 16 people who were injured in Monday's attack.

Kiumarsi is in intensive care, according to Robert Bajko, the vice-president of communications at the Canadian Union for Public Employees (CUPE) branch that Kiumarsi belongs to.

"Our hearts and prayers go out to him and his family as well as all the victims from yesterday's tragedy," Bajko said in an email to HuffPost Canada.

On RateMyProfessors.com, some of Kiumarsi's students described him as a caring, humble and helpful instructor.

With files from The Canadian Press, Mohamed Omar

CLARIFICATION- April 27, 2018: Previous reports from Toronto police stated that 14 people were injured in the Toronto van rampage. Officials have since updated that number to 16.

CORRECTION - April 24, 2018: A previous version of this article listed one of the injured victim's names as Samantha Pratt.

CORRECTION - April 25, 2018: A previous version of this article misspelled Munir Najjar's name.

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