Several mourners turned out for a church service on New Year’s Eve that offered prayers for one of the victims of a mass murder earlier this week.
Cyndi Duong was identified as one of the victims of a murder-suicide that left nine, including the man believed to be the killer, dead.
One of those mourning was Jade Nguyen, who said Duong was her cousin’s daughter but the two women also had sons the same age.
“We go to the same church. Our family is quite tight in bonding,” Nguyen explained.
“She was a loving mother, loving wife, also a great friend, great family member.
“I would like her to be remembered as a loving person, caring person. She was very optimistic, happy, outgoing and very generous.”
The body of Duong was found at one of three crime scenes discovered by police on Monday and early Tuesday morning.
Seven bodies were discovered at another scene in Edmonton’s Lakeview neighbourhood. One of those was a young boy that neighbours have identified as Elvis Lam.
“Sometimes I wish that a social worker would come this way because I don’t know how to deal with it. The only thing I can tell my son is that he go to heaven,” Quang Nguyen explained.
He said his son was best friends with Elvis, a child he described as well-behaved.
“He was really disciplined and listened to his mom, his grandpa and grandma.
“All of my kids were close to him but my oldest one, Lucas - that was his best friend.
“In the summer time they were always outside playing tag, play in the bouncing house. They ran all over the place and sometimes take a bike ride.”
Sources told CTV News that the man believed to be responsible for the deaths had been identified as Phu Lam, 53. Documents indicated Lam owned the home with Tien Truong.
According to sources, Truong was married to Lam, but said he would often hurt her. Truong reportedly told friends she had no money to move out.
Autopsies on the victims were scheduled to take place New Year's Eve and New Year’s Day – police said further official information on the case isn’t expected until the New Year.
With files from Nicole Weisberg, Julia Parrish, Stewart Shaw
