The family of the Pinetree secondary student who was killed by a stray bullet has launched two scholarships in his name and announced that a funeral will be held Saturday to remember 15-year-old Alfred Wong.
At a press conference Monday at Vancouver Police Department headquarters, the family’s pastor, Caleb Choi, and Wong’s brother, Wilfred Wong, expressed thanks for the professionalism and kindness of police and hospital staff, and for they support they have received from the community in the week since Alfred Wong died two days after being shot.
“We’re all full of shock that something like this would happen to us," Wilfred told reporters. "Everything is very raw right now, it’s difficult to look back."
Choi described the events leading up to Alfred’s death when he was hit by a bullet fired into the car as the family was driving home from a family dinner they had with the Wongs' older son.
Police say assailants were firing at each other and the Wong vehicle got caught in the crossfire. A 23-year-old man, Kevin Whiteside, was also killed. The shooting occurred between 9 and 9:30 p.m. on East Broadway near Ontario Street,
Pastor Choi described Alfred, who was in Grade 10 at Pinetree, as a “bright young man who excelled at his studies” and was “passionate about every cause.”
He was also an athlete, studying martial arts, playing basketball and swimming with the Hyack Swim Club.
The family was very close, Choi said, and enjoyed traveling. The teen was taken much too soon but lived “to the fullest extent,” he told the media.
Alfred had been planning to study electronic engineering and so the Alfred Y.F. Wong Memorial Scholarship has been established with School District 43 will be given to a deserving Pinetree secondary school graduate “who is pursuing a post-secondary education with a focus on engineering and who embodies what we most admired in Alfred: his curiosity, determination, academic excellence and achievement in all areas of life.”
A second scholarship has been established with the Hyack Swim Club, where Alfred was a member. It will be awarded to help members of the club who intend to pursue post-secondary education and swim at the university level.
In lieu of gifts or flowers, individuals are encouraged to make a donation in Alfred’s name to the scholarship funds. A link to the SD43 scholarship is on the Pinetree website (sd43.bc.ca/School/pinetree) and Hyack members can get info through the club.
In a statement to the media, the family described Alfred as follows: “Alfred Wong was born in Canada and has lived in Coquitlam his whole life. He was a hardworking student, caring brother and loving son. He was involved in many extracurricular activities outside school including martial arts, swimming, basketball and Kumon. He was in Grade 10 and a straight-A student. He had plans to be a future lifeguard and an electronic engineer. He was kind to everyone he met. He is survived by his older brother and his parents.”
The family also stated that it is coping with the support of friends and relatives, along with the “belief that Alfred is now in a better place with God. He was a gentle child and he made our family incredibly happy. As parents, we are proud to have called Alfred our son, and no words can express how much we will miss him.”
In a statement, the Coquitlam Christ Church of China noted that many teenagers in the congregation grew up alongside Alfred. “Alfred was whimsical and always brought joy to our congregations. We are deeply saddened and will miss his thoughtfulness and kindness.”
To deal with the grieving, the church is consulting with professionals on a healing strategy.
The funeral service will take place Saturday, Jan. 27 at 10:30 a.m. at Coquitlam Alliance Church, 2601 Spuraway Ave., Coquitlam. Those who attend are asked not to take photos or videos inside the church during the service.
During Monday’s press conference, VPD chief Adam Palmer said as many as 100 officers have worked on the case in various capacities and the chain of events has been recreated but police are not releasing any details at this time. A mobile command centre was set up at the scene and police obtained more tips and dashcam video. But police are asking that anyone who has not yet provided any information come forward because they may have an important missing detail.
“Alfred’s murder has rocked our community,” Palmer said, adding later, “It's very rare that we see an innocent person killed. It’s heartbreaking to see this."
• Investigators with the VPD's Major Crime Section are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this shooting or who may have dashcam footage and driving in the area between 9 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on Jan.13, to call 604-717-2500.
