More than 150 attendees hold candlelight vigil for victims of Vaughan, Ont., Condo shooting rampage

Thebharatexpressnews.com
Dec. 22, 2022

More than 150 people gathered Wednesday night for a candlelight vigil for five victims of a shooting at a condominium north of Toronto.

Rita Camilleri, Vittorio Panza, Russell Manock, Helen Manock and Naveed Dada were killed and a woman, Doreen Di Nino, was seriously injured Sunday night when a 73-year-old gunman opened fire on the building in Vaughan, Ont. before being shot dead by police.

The vigil took place in the courtyard outside Vaughan City Hall, where community leaders spoke, including Maple Community Church Mayor Steven Del Duca and Pastor Jason Cleugh.

“Please remember that you are the light of your beloved,” Cleugh said, addressing the families.

“Please let your light shine and their memory will live through you. Speak wonderful things of them this Christmas season. Remember them this holiday season, be thankful for them. We are grateful that they are part of our community.”

Relatives joined friends of the deceased and shocked community members to honor the memories of their loved ones at the vigil. Those in attendance held candles and flowers to pay their respects.

Del Duca said the community was still in a “state of disbelief” about the killings and that there are more questions than answers. He read the names of the dead and a moment of silence was held as those present paid their respects.

“I have to be honest. I’m not sure any of us have the words to convey exactly how devastated and heartbroken we are as a community for all of you, for your loss,” Del Duca said.

‘A Time to Mourn’
“I have no doubt that we will come together as a community, that we will be there for each other in the coming days, and especially for the victims’ families and friends. And that together we will find a way as a community to heal when the time is right,” he said.

“But this is not a time for healing. This is a time for mourning.”

Del Duca said flags at city facilities will remain lowered until further notice to honor the victims.

Members of the public attended a candlelight vigil for the victims of a fatal shooting at an apartment in Vaughan, Ontario on Wednesday, December 21, 2022.
Ontario Education Stephen Lecce, whose family once lived in the building, also attended the wake.

“This Christmas, as I sit, as we sit with our loved ones, we have to think of those who just don’t have them at the table anymore,” Lecce told TBEN Toronto.

York Regional Police have said the gunman had a lengthy dispute with his flat board before killing three board members and two of their partners.

Police Chief Jim MacSween told the vigil that police are “doing their best” to support the families and friends of the victims.

“These are real people. These are people we’ve lost. When we talk about victims from time to time, they’re not numbers. They have families that are grieving,” he said.

“Rita was a very outgoing, very generous, very sweet, gentle woman — a really compassionate soul,” Derasmo said.

“She took very good care of Vittorio. They had a very good love connection and loved to dance, loved parties like fundraisers, dinner dances. We were at a dinner dance together about three weeks ago.”

Others in attendance, such as Danny Montesano, did not know anyone involved, but still felt compelled to attend the vigil.

“I’ve come to give everything I can to help families,” he said. “I was so shocked…I don’t believe this.”

Di Nino’s husband has identified her as the sole survivor of the shooting and says she is resting in hospital after emergency surgery.