Forty candles lit up the sad faces of those mourning the loss of 43-year-old Keni Su’a last night, an innocent bystander who was fatally shot in a gang-related incident on New Year’s Day.
The candlelight vigil, held outside of Bolsa Vietnamese Restaurant, was about remembering Su’a, and also reclaiming the spot in the parking lot in front of the restaurant where Su’a died.
Police believe Su’a fled the restaurant when two shooters opened fire inside, only to be confronted by a third, and later shot when the two suspects inside followed him out.
Mosie Su’a, Keni’s brother, will be helping to take Keni’s body back to his native Samoa.
“We’re taking our brother to his second home. I think he would call Canada his first home,” Su’a said.
Pose Seumanucafa, a friend of the Su’a family since birth, said he doesn’t blame Calgary for what happened.
“Canada is a clean place, with very friendly people, and a safe place,” he said.
“Those are the feelings that Keni had when he arrived here. And those are the feelings that he’ll take with him when they take his body back to Samoa.”
Friends and family members laid flowers outside the restaurant, sang a Samoan hymn and prayed.
Many, including Mosie Su’a, said they forgive the gang members who killed Su’a.
“We struggle with it,” Seumanucafa said. “But we have to keep in mind that if we go down the road of unforgiveness than we are not allowing ourselves to heal.”
Greg Boak, who used to work with Keni Su’a, expressed anger towards the police and said they should have done more to prevent the crime.
“They just have to crack down more. They have to do more on this, follow these guys and be more diligent about it,” he said.
