Single mother of 1 identified as among dead in Toronto van attack

More victims are being identified by family, friends and employers after Monday’s deadly van attack on Toronto’s Yonge Street.

Renuka Amarasingha, who worked at Toronto District School Board, died in Monday's attack

CBC News ·
Renuka Amarasingha, a single mother, was confirmed by her employer, the TDSB, on Wednesday as having died in the attack. (Supplied by Rangika Karunathilake)

A single mother of a young son is the latest person to be identified as a victim of Monday's van attack in Toronto. 

Renuka Amarasingha was one of 10 people killed when a white rental van mounted the curb of busy Yonge Street and drove forward, striking pedestrians, friends said. She was a Toronto District School Board (TDSB) employee.

The accused driver, 25-year-old Alek Minassian, faces 10 counts of first-degree murder and 13 counts of attempted murder. 

Due to the complexity of the investigation, Ontario's chief coroner, Dr. Dirk Huyer, said Tuesday it will be several days before his team officially confirms victims' identities. 

But family, friends and employers have begun reaching out to news outlets and posting online about the people who have died. 

Renuka Amarasingha

On Wednesday morning, Renuka Amarasingha, a single mother, was confirmed by the TDSB as having died in the attack.

Amarasingha was a former TDSB adult student who had worked as a nutrition services staff member at several schools. (Supplied by Rangika Karunathilake)

"It is with heavy hearts that we are learning of the death of a TDSB staff member whose life was tragically cut short," wrote John Molloy, director of education, in a statement.

He said Amarasingha was a former TDSB adult student who had worked as a nutrition services staff member at a number of schools since 2015. 

Anne Marie D'Amico

D'Amico was the first victim to be identified, one day after Monday's attack. 

She worked at the U.S.-based investment management firm Invesco. Its headquarters are close to the stretch of Yonge Street where the attack took place. Anne Marie D'Amico, who worked for an investment management firm, was the first person identified as having died. (Facebook)

D'Amico has been described by a co-worker as "full of life, loved to travel, loved to help volunteer."

Her family also released a statement saying she had a "a generous heart" and "always did big things for people." 

Dorothy Sewell

Sewell was on her way to the bank when she was killed.

The 80-year-old spent years working for Sears and volunteered helping other seniors. Dorothy Sewell, 80, was an avid sports fan and never missed a Blue Jays game, her grandson said Tuesday. (Elwood Delaney)

Her grandson, Elwood Delaney, said she was the "best grandma you could ask for" and had an endless love for sports, especially the Blue Jays and the Maple Leafs. 

​Other victims confirmed by governments

Two governments, South Korea and Jordan, say they lost citizens in the attack. 

Media in Jordan are citing government sources as saying the Jordanian citizen who died was Munir Najjar, who was in Toronto visiting his son. 

Meanwhile, the South Korean Foreign Affairs Ministry has confirmed to South Korean media outlets that two nationals were killed.

CBC News has not independently verified that reporting.

5 of injured still in critical condition

Documents from Minassian's Tuesday court appearance obtained by CBC News identified 13 of the 14 injured.

Minassian is expected to be charged with a 14th count of attempted murder, pending some "followup investigations," according to Toronto police Det. Sgt. Graham Gibson.

The injured identified so far are:

  • Robert Anderson.
  • Mavis Justino.
  • Amir Kiumarsi.
  • Aleksandra Kozhevinikova.
  • Morgan McDougall.
  • Jun Seok Park.
  • Samantha Peart.
  • So Ra.
  • Catherine Riddell.
  • Sammantha Samson.
  • Beverly Smith.
  • Amaresh Tesfamariam.
  • Yunsheng Tian.

On Wednesday, Sunnybrook Hospital told CBC News that five of the 14 injured remain in critical condition, while three are in serious condition.