Family of man killed in Chinatown attack hope for solutions to create a safer community
Family members remember one of the men killed in Chinatown this week as a kind and hardworking man, and hope that his needless death will lead to change.
Hung Trang, 64, a husband, father of two daughters and proud grandfather, was seriously assaulted while at work at Albert's Autobody on Wednesday. He was rushed to hospital but died from his injuries on Thursday.
Christina Trang, his oldest daughter, told CTV News Edmonton the reality of her father's death still has not fully sunk in.
"My dad was the most caring man for his family," Christina said. "It's been difficult after his passing just being home.
"He did everything to care for my mother," she said. "She worked and she came home, and everything was done (for her). She doesn't even know how to use the washer. She's never done her own laundry. She said my dad does everything."
Tony Hai, owner of Albert's Autobody on 106 Avenue and 98 Street, previously told CTV News Edmonton how the shop's surveillance system captured the unprovoked assault on Hung, who was his employee for 33 years.
Hung Trang (Supplied).
Christina says her uncle, who works at Albert's Autobody, is the one that called her.
"I was at work," she said. "(My uncle said) it looked like he got into a fight. His face is all swollen. He's unresponsive. He's not breathing.
"My heart sank. Walking into the ER," she added, "that was the worst feeling ever.
"The doctor came to tell us that he suffered significant trauma to his head. His heart stopped twice. That they did CPR on him for at least 20 minutes, and he had no oxygen to his brain for that long."
"It all still just feels unreal," Christina said. "It's just not the same anymore."
On Friday, the Edmonton Police Service said Justin Bone, 36, was charged with two counts of second-degree murder and a robbery charge in the fatal beating of 61-year-old Ban Phuc Hoang.
According to police, Hoang was located as officers discovered a second scene at 105 Avenue and 98 Street at an electronics business. Paramedics later pronounced him dead at the scene.
Bone was taken into custody, Hai said, after he and a private security guard called police as they followed him.
Police say Bone was not known to either victim, and that no further suspects are being sought.
'SOMETHING NEEDS TO CHANGE'
Christina said her dad loved to laugh, was dedicated, and could "talk your ear off" once he knew a person. He also spent a lot of time at Sweet Basil Vietnamese Kitchen, a Windermere restaurant their family once owned.
"I never actually realized how connected he was in the Chinese community there. Knowing everybody," she added.
Christina is sure that her dad would not want this to happen to anyone else.
"It's really sad that it's gotten to this point where my dad and the other victim (Hoang) had to give up their life for the city to finally start noticing this," Christina said.
"I grew up there (at Albert's Autobody)," she added. "We would visit my dad at work.
"But we haven't gone there for a long time. It's just not the same anymore."
She hopes the city will finally find a way to permanently address issues Chinatown has been dealing with for years.
"Something needs to change there," Christina said. "Truthfully, I don't know (the answer), but if the homeless are scared of the homeless there, that's a major issue, and that needs to be changed to create a more safe community for everybody there."
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Sean Amato
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
B.C. theatre to pay $55K to neurodivergent actor in discrimination case
British Columbia's human rights tribunal has awarded a neurodigergent actor, who was diagnosed with sensory and learning disorders, more than $55,000 after finding that a Kelowna theatre company discriminated against him because of his disabilities.
Who's responsible for regulating cannabis stores operating under the sovereignty banner?
It's not quite clear who is supposed to be regulating so-called sovereign cannabis stores or even ensure they're benefiting Indigenous communities.