Teen, family's sole survivor in Vancouver attack, to give half his donations to other victims
Andy Le, now the sole survivor of his family and the brother of Katie Le, the 5-year-old who was killed in the Vancouver festival attack, is donating half the proceeds from his GoFundMe to other survivors and their families.
Andy Le — the 16-year-old whose stepmother and father were also killed in the deadly attack on the Filipino festival last weekend — announced in a video released this week that he is giving away more than $266,000 Canadian dollars from a fundraiser set up for him. It had raised over half a million Canadian dollars as of its close on Tuesday.
Le's uncle, Toan Le, told NBC News the funds would be donated in the coming weeks and that they are searching for an organization to give to.
'From the bottom of my heart, thank you all so much. I truly appreciate each and every one of you,' Andy Le said. 'I know that many other families are hurting too, which is why I would like to donate $266,000 to the other victims from my GoFundMe campaign.'
The Saturday attack killed 11 people and injured more than two dozen others. The victims ranged in age from 5 to 65, officials said at a news conference Sunday, adding that the death toll could rise. So far, law enforcement has not given a motive, but it has ruled out terrorism as a possibility.
Officials said the suspect, Kai-Ji Adam Lo, 30, who has been charged with eight counts of second-degree murder, had a history of mental illness and was known to police. Lo was under the care of a mental health team at Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH), the facility said in a statement Tuesday. But he was on an extended leave under the Mental Health Act at the time of the attack.
Toan Le told NBC News that his brother, Richard Le, 47; his sister-in-law, Linh Hoang, 30; and his niece, Katie Le, 5, were killed. Andy Le survived, the GoFundMe said, because he opted to stay home to finish his homework instead of attending the festival with the rest of his family.
The fundraiser was initially started to pay for Andy Le's college education in addition to final expenses for his three family members. In a post on the GoFundMe page, Toan Le said that the funds would now also go toward direct or indirect victims and cover expenses including funeral costs, education, counseling and medical expenses.
'Our hearts go out to all of the families affected by this tragedy,' Toan Le wrote on the GoFundMe page. 'Stay strong—we are with you.'
Toan Le also shared details about Andy Le's late family members, writing on the GoFundMe that Richard Le was a dedicated father, badminton and tennis coach and real estate professional.
'He devoted his life to teaching young people the values of sportsmanship and team spirit,' Le wrote on the GoFundMe. 'He served his community and clients with pride and always went out of his way to help others.'
Le went on to say that Linh Hoang, Andy Le's stepmother, was 'known for her kindness and gentle spirit.' And Katie was just about to graduate from kindergarten.
'She was vibrant, joyful, and full of life,' Toan Le said of Katie, who was among the youngest of the attack victims.
In his video, Andy Le said that he plans to continue living with his grandparents.
Locals previously told NBC News that the festival that was attacked is one of the largest Filipino celebrations of the year. It honors the 16th century Filipino chieftain Datu Lapu-Lapu, who defeated Spanish forces and remains a symbol of resistance against colonialism.
Diana Silva, a vendor at the festival who left just 30 minutes before the attack, said that during a vigil for the victims, community members didn't hesitate to start brainstorming ways to support survivors and help grieving community members.' Silva said it was reflective of the spirit of the chieftain himself.
'Lapu-Lapu is all about resilience, and he stood up for the Philippines,' Silva said. 'I think that's what our community is doing now.'This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
R. Kelly Accuses Prison Officials of Murder Plot, Says He's In Danger
Originally appeared on E! Online R. Kelly is requesting what he believes to be a life-saving measure. The 'Ignition' singer—who is currently serving a 30-year sentence in a federal North Carolina prison for convictions associated with allegations of racketeering, bribery, coercion, enticement and sex trafficking—has asked to be released to home detention due to an alleged murder plot against him, according to court docs obtained by NBC News. 'His life depends on the oversight of literal 'guards' and jailers who are entrusted with his safety,' R. Kelly's attorney Beau B. Brindley wrote in the filing. 'Yet, explicit evidence has now emerged to show that the very officials charged with protecting incarcerated inmates have solicited Mr. Kelly's murder.' While Kelly (full name Robert Kelly) has denied all the charges against him—including in the 2022 Chicago sex crimes case in which he was convicted of six counts of sex crimes including child pornography—his legal team said that the alleged murder plot against him is a result of alleged crimes committed by Bureau of Prisons (BOP) officials against Kelly. More from E! Online 1000-Lb Sisters: Tammy Slaton Unveils Transformation After Skin Removal Surgery Aaron Rodgers Reveals He's Married Justin Bieber Slams "Transactional Relationships' After Hailey Bieber Split Rumors 'When that information began to be exposed by Mr. Kelly's attorneys, officials in the Bureau of Prisons solicited another inmate to kill him,' the filing continued. 'At least two avowed white supremacists and members of the Aryan Brotherhood have been approached by BOP officers and directed to take Mr. Kelly's life.' The attorney alleged that another prison authority gave the musician a warning, as well. 'The official then advised Mr. Kelly that he was in danger and that Mr. Kelly needed to be careful,' the lawyer wrote in the filing. 'The BOP official intimated that Mr. Kelly was not safe in Bureau of Prisons custody.' Brindley also said that the prison official told Kelly that he 'should avoid the mess hall' due to the 'possibility of poison being mixed into the food at the chow hall and in the commissary as a means of achieving these executions.' As a result of the alleged murder plot against Kelly, his legal team has asked that he be temporarily released to serve his ongoing sentence in home detention. E! News has reached out to Brindley, Bureau of Prisons officials and the U.S. attorney's office for comment and has not yet heard back. (E! and NBC News are both part of the NBCUniversal family.) For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
New age-progressed photo released in 1980 baby abduction in Oceanside
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Nearly 45 years after a newborn was abducted from the family of a Camp Pendleton Marine, authorities are hoping a new computer-generated image will finally lead to answers. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) on Tuesday released an age-progressed photo of what Kevin Verville Jr. may look like today. He was only 17 days old when he was taken from his family's Oceanside military housing complex on July 1, 1980. Cold case solved: High school teacher's killer identified as 16-year-old boy Investigators believe if Kevin is still alive, he likely has no idea he was abducted. 'The pain of the kidnapping of my son has changed our life — changed the way we think, the way we talk, the way we do everything,' his father, Kevin Verville Sr., said. According to investigators, a woman posing as a social worker approached the Verville family and convinced them she was part of a welfare assistance program called HELP. She claimed her name was Sheila and said she was helping new mothers. Angeline Hartmann with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children said the woman persuaded Kevin's mother, Angelina, to get into her car under the pretense of picking up another mother who was also joining the program. Arrest made in San Diego cold case homicide nearly 50 years later 'They drive for about eight miles until the woman stops at a home,' Hartmann said. 'The woman asks the mom to get out of the car and knock on the door. Kevin Verville Jr.'s mother steps out of the car to knock on the door and the woman takes off.' Kevin Verville Jr. was never seen again. FBI officials believe the woman, who said she was pregnant at the time, may have been targeting newborns in the military community — particularly those of Filipino descent. They theorize she may have suffered a miscarriage and was looking to raise a child as her own. 'She was noticed having a small tattoo on the left hand, between her left thumb and forefinger — possibly a circle with a cross,' said Houtan Moshrefi, acting special agent in charge of the FBI's San Diego office. Cold case: Pacific Beach murder victim identified 42 years later The suspect was described as a small woman, about 5'2″. Kevin's sister, Angelica Ramsey, has never met her older brother but hopes DNA testing and public awareness may still lead to his discovery. 'She's had two strokes — she can't walk, she can't talk,' Ramsey said of their mother, Angelina. 'Seeing my parents suffer makes me sad. I think it would be devastating if either of them passed before we found him.' As Kevin's 45th birthday approaches on Saturday, investigators and family members are pleading with the public: If anyone recognizes the man in the new photo or knows information about the abduction, contact the FBI. The FBI is still offering a $10,000 reward for information that leads to the location of Kevin Verville, Jr., as well as the arrest and conviction of those responsible for his abduction. Anyone with information on Kevin Jr., his abduction or the unknown female suspect, is asked to call the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST or the FBI at 1-800-225-5324, or visit Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Minneapolis mother witnesses tragic murder-suicide involving 2-year-old
The Brief Just after midnight Monday, 2-year-old Kinsley was shot and killed by her father. He then turned the gun on himself. Kinsley's mother, Trisha Prinsen, says her boyfriend struggled with mental health, but Sunday had a crisis and behavior she had never seen before. Prinsen says she and her daughter were held hostage in their own home, unable to call for help before the shooting. MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - A Minneapolis mother is dealing with tragedy after her 2-year-old daughter was shot and killed by her father, who then turned the gun on himself. What we know Police were called to the family's home on the 2900 block of Colfax Avenue North just after midnight Monday. They arrived to find the 2-year-old girl and her father both deceased. Trisha Prinsen says she and her daughter were not allowed to leave the home, and essentially held hostage. Her boyfriend was armed and having a mental crisis. She was able to text two friends to call police, but nothing happened. She did not know you can text 911 for help. What they're saying Trisha Prinsen says although she is angry and sad, her daughter loved her father very much, and that she loved him too. Prinsen says, "I still love him. It's gonna take me a while to forgive him but I still love him." At the height of the crisis, Kinsley went to hug her father, and that's when he shot her and turned the gun on himself. This happened right in front of Prinsen. "Really he just went into a mental psychosis thought people were living under the house, people were watching him. I can't explain it. I couldn't understand where his thinking had gone, he had never been like this before." Prinsen said. Prinsen went onto say, "I'll never be able to take away the images losing her, watching him do that in front of me. I'll never be able to take those images out of my head." Big picture view Prinsen hopes by sharing her story, it will help to raise mental health awareness. She hopes if someone is going through a crisis, or a loved one is struggling they will go get help. She also wants to spread the word that you can text 911, as she didn't know that and it may have helped to prevent such a horrible tragedy. What you can do Trisha is hoping to get help for funeral expenses through a GoFundMe.