Meet Kenny Lam, the Hero Toronto Cop Who Peacefully Arrested Alek Minassian
By Ryan General
Toronto Police constable Kenny Lam was recently recognized by the local police union for peacefully apprehending the suspect in the deadly van attack in Canada on Monday.
According to Toronto Police Association president Mike McCormack, the arrest of Alek Minassian was that horrific day’s single “shining moment.”
Video footages of the incident have been widely shared on social media, with many netizens showering the 42-year-old officer with praise for his restraint and brilliant handling of the tense standoff with the mass killer.
Minassian had earlier rammed into a crowd of people, killing 10 and injuring 14 victims.
“It’s one shining moment in an absolutely game-changing, abysmal, horrific day in the city of Toronto,” McCormack was quoted by CTV News as saying. “The one … positive to take-away from that day was his behavior.”
Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders also commended the officer at a press briefing on Tuesday, praising his action as “nothing short of remarkable.”
Lam, who belongs to the force’s 32nd Division, was among the many first responders who approached the scene of the horrific crime at the sidewalk between Finch Avenue and Sheppard Avenue. They reportedly arrived just about seven minutes after the first call for help.
The suspect was already out of the van he used to mow down innocent people when Lam drew his firearm out and shouted commands at Minassian.
Minassian began taunting Lam by assuming a shooter stance and acting as if he had pulled a weapon from his pocket.
After telling him to get down, Lam proceeded to turn his car siren off in a bid to de-escalate the situation by calming an agitated suspect.
“I have a gun in my pocket” the man shouted back, followed by “Kill me” or “Shoot me in the head.”
Lam instead put his own firearm away and got out his baton. He approached the man who eventually dropped to the ground and surrendered to him without having to fire a single shot.
“It could have gone either way. Any time if that threat escalated, we could have had a different outcome,” McCormack added.
“He reacted to what he was seeing, what his training taught him, and we’re extremely proud of him. He may have prevented additional deaths.”
According to McCormack, despite the tons of praise he received for his heroism, Lam was reportedly “more concerned with the victims … than what he has done,” insisting that his actions were “no big deal.”
In an interview with Canadian television network Global, Kenny’s father, David Lam, expressed his pride in his son’s heroism.
“I’m happy he was safe,” the immigrant father from Hong Kong said. “I’m proud of him, to do a good job. Well done.”
Feature Image via YouTube/CityNews Toronto
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