City of Vaughan proposes memorial of 5 victims killed in condo shooting

Toronto.citynews.ca, CP24.com, Globalnews.ca, O.canada.com, Communityassociations.net, Flipboard.com
Jan. 17, 2023
Lucas Casaletto

Vaughan mayor Steven Del Duca says council will submit a joint proposal to create a permanent memorial in honour of the victims killed in a targeted condominium shooting.

Francesco Villi, 73, is suspected of killing five people, three of them condo board members, on Dec. 18 before a York Regional Police officer fatally shot him at the condo building he resided in near Jane Street and Rutherford Road in Vaughan.

The five victims were identified as Rita Camilleri, 57, Vittorio Panza, 79, Russell Manock, 75, Lorraine Manock, 71 and Naveed Dada, 59. A sixth shooting victim- a condo board member’s wife- was taken to a hospital with serious injuries but survived the attack.

Del Duca said at the time that there are no words that can adequately convey Vaughan’s collective heartbreak, nor are there any words that could provide enough comfort to the victims’ families.

“I do not doubt that we will come together as a community, that we will be there for one another, and there in particular for the family and friends of the victims and that together we will find a way as a community to heal when the time is right.”

Ahead of Tuesday’s council meeting, Del Duca announced that he would submit a joint Member’s Resolution proposing a memorial to honour the victims.

“If passed, the city would create a memorial and host an unveiling at a time to be determined,” Del Duca said.

“We are a city united in our grief. Vaughan will never forget the tragic loss of Rita Camilleri, Vittorio Panza, Russell Manock, Helen ‘Lorraine’ Manock and Naveed Dada, nor the heinous injury of Doreen Di Nino during this shooting rampage. Our proposed memorial will honour their memories and ensure they are never forgotten.”

Court documents show Villi had a long-running beef with the condo’s board, and police believe he went door-to-door in the highrise, gunning down some of its members and their loved ones.