Thorncliffe Park triple homicide victims mourned at vigil
Zahra Mohamoud Abdille and her two school-aged sons, Faris and Zain, are being mourned at a candlelight vigil outside their Thorncliffe Park apartment building on Tuesday night, days after their bodies were discovered.
The community has been in shock since Saturday, when police found the bodies inside their apartment at 85 Thorncliffe Park Dr. More than 100 people attended the vigil, many offering memories of the family.
"It is clearly a tragic situation but I think it is fitting to remember the victims," said Ahmed Hussein, of the Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office as he thanked people for coming.
Among those holding candles were friends, neighbours and classmates of the two young boys.
Nawal Albusaidi, who organized the vigil, said the point of tonight’s event was to show "we are together against violence and what happened to this lovely family and this community is very unusual."
In the crowd, many shed tears remembering the Abdille family.
"They had still a long life to live and so much to do in their life," said Naheed Akhtar.
Earlier in the day, the two TDSB schools the boys attended lowered their flags to half-mast.
"I looked on my Facebook and everyone said rest in peace Faris," one student told CBC Toronto.
"I felt sad and angry because he was one of my best friends."
Homicide unit continues investigation
Back at the high-rise apartment, a police forensic identification van remains on the scene.
Police said on Tuesday the investigation is ongoing and the next update will likely come from the homicide squad, though it’s unclear when that will happen. Police are exploring a link between the homicides and another death, where a man threw himself onto the Don Valley Parkway.
Staff Sgt. Matt Moyer said the case has been tough on the officers, too.
"I will tell you on a personal note, it's affected the members of the Toronto police."
Police are still investigating whether there's a link between the deaths and a suspected suicide in which a man threw himself off the Leaside Bridge onto the Don Valley Parkway Saturday.
