Father, mother, 5-year-old daughter killed in Vancouver festival attack, leaving son behind | CBC News (2025)

Michelle Gomez, Akshay Kulkarni · CBC News

· Posted: Apr 28, 2025 2:41 PM EDT | Last Updated: April 29

Three members of the same familyand a school counsellor havebeen identified as four of the 11 people killed in a vehicle ramming at a Filipino street festival in Vancouver on Saturday.

The province has set up an online condolence bookto sign in honour of the victims, with Vancouver police sayingmost of the victims in the alleged attack were female.

The youngest victim of the tragedy is five years old, according to police, and the oldest is a 65-year-old man. Police said they would release all the victims' identities to the public in due course, following a trauma-informed approach.

As of Monday afternoon, the province says 16 patients remain in hospital as a result of the alleged attack, and Vancouver police say seven of them have critical injuries.

Here's what we know about the victims so far.

The Le family

Richard Le,47, his wifeLinh Hoang,30, and their daughter Katie Le,5, were among those who died at the Lapu-Lapu Day festival, according to Richard's brother Toan Le.

He said the family was notified Richard had died at the scene Sunday morning, while his wife and daughter both passed away shortly after in the hospital.

Toan said Richard had a 16-year-old son, Andy, who had stayed at home that day.Hoang was Andy's stepmom, Toan said, and had raised him like he was her own.

"His entire life just changed overnight," he said, adding that the family is trying to stay strong for Andy.

Toan said Andy has dreams of playing professional badminton and was hoping to do so with the help of his father, who was coaching him.

Katie, the youngest of those who died in this attack, had just finished pre-school, according to Toan.

"She was the life of the party. She was always so cheerful, happy. Shealways wants to play with her cousins," said Toan.

"We're going to miss her so much."

An online fundraiser for Andy has raised over $230,000 at the time of writing.

"We're just one of many families that are going through this experience. It's senseless violence to innocent people, and as a society, we have to be better."

Kira Salim

A Monday statement from theNew Westminster School Board saidKira Salimwas killed at the street party.

"The loss of our friend and colleague has left us all shocked and heartbroken," read the statement.

"Kira was a valued member of our community whose wisdom and care for our middle and secondary school students had a powerful impact. Their work, and the great spirit they brought to it, changed lives."

It said Salim was a counsellor at both Fraser River Middle School and New Westminster Secondary.

"We are a small but mighty community. This is one of the qualities of New Westminster that Kira loved the most," it said.

New West Pride also paid tribute to Salim in a Facebook post, noting they were "a wonderful, exuberant contributor to our local community."

It described Salimasa volunteer, activist, local educator and mental health worker.

Young breakdancerand mother hurt

In addition to the 11 fatalities, dozens more people were injuredin the alleged ramming attack.

Among them were a mother, 43-year-old Christi-Ann Watkins, and her 11-year-old son Lennox — a breakdancer who had previously competed at provincial competitions.

Matt Watkins, Christi's husband, said his wife is a DJ who was a participant and one of the main organizers of the Lapu-Lapu Festival.

She and Lennoxwere in line at one of the event's food trucks when they were struck on Saturday, while Matt had driven their other child home.

"It could have been all four of us in the hospital, or worse," Matt told CBC News. "It's very weird to feel guilty and so angry and so sad."

Matt said his wife and son had avoided serious injury, but facea long road to recovery — and urged anyone who had the opportunity to help the families of victims.

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