A homeless man who died after eight teenage girls attacked him in Toronto was remembered as quiet and kind Tuesday, as the case left several in the homeless community worried for their safety.
Police have identified Ken Lee as the 59-year-old man who died in December. They previously said he had moved into the city’s shelter system in recent months.
Three 13-year-olds, three 14-year-olds and two 16-year-olds face charges of second-degree murder in Lee’s death. Police said the teenage girls met on social media and gathered in downtown Toronto.
Hours after police released Lee’s name Tuesday, dozens of people gathered at a memorial in a downtown square to honor him and other homeless people who have recently died in the city.
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Doug Johnson Hatlema, a street pastor and spokesman for Sanctuary Toronto, which works with the homeless, said he learned Lee had immigrated from Hong Kong and was working to find housing.
Those who knew Lee said he was a quiet man who stood up for a friend when the group of teenagers were allegedly attacked, Hatlema said.
“Nobody was surprised that he would stand up for someone like that,” Hatlema said.
One homeless woman said Lee’s death has left many homeless people worried about their safety.
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“There are people who are afraid,” said Lynn Walker, who lives in a tent near a popular Toronto botanical garden.
“They are nervous about being in tents, being on the street and violence happening. It’s getting worse and worse every day here.”
Diana Chan McNally, a harm reduction case manager at the nonprofit All Saints Church, who knows Lee, said his case highlighted violence against the homeless.
“I have people come to me with all kinds of injuries from being beaten up by complete strangers. There is so much hatred and dehumanization of people who are not housed,” she said. “(Lee’s death) is the most extreme example of that.”
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Jesse Allen, a former homeless man who organized Tuesday’s memorial, said he and other people living on the street had a thought after hearing about Lee’s death.
“That could be me,” he said.
“Most homeless people will tell you personal stories of being chased by people who want to beat them up… We all know someone who died, we all know someone who was assaulted.”
One of the teenage girls charged in the case has been released on bail, while the others have court hearings scheduled for various dates this month.
Police said the girls live in homes in the Toronto area. Three of the girls had previous interactions with the police, while another five did not.
1:51 1 of 8 teenage girls accused of mass death released on bail
© 2023 The Canadian Press
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