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On Monday, ten people were killed and 15 were injured after a man named Alek Minassian plowed into a group of pedestrians in Toronto. The 25-year-old suspect was charged with 10 counts of first-degree murder and 13 counts of attempted murder. As more information about Minassian's personal life surfaces, people are growing increasingly curious about his family.
His Father Appeared to Be the Only Family Member to Attended the Hearing
On Tuesday, Minassian's father, Vahe Minassian, sobbed through the hearing, according to the Daily Mail. When Vahe was asked by reporters afterward if he sent a message to Toronto he said, "Sorry."
The Daily Mail writes, "Vahe was seen quietly sobbing to himself during the brief hearing as the courts confirmed that his son was suspected of mass murder. He appears to be the only family member who came to court." Alek's mother, Sona Minassian, did not attend.
Multiple outlets report that in 2009, Sonya spoke to a magazine called the Richmond Hill Liberal and said that her son suffered from Asperger syndrome and was part of a program that was helping him “work through his cognitive barriers and prepare him for the workplace.”
Friends Say Minassian Was Socially Awkward
A former classmate of Minassian told CNN that he would often give in to peer pressure, "such as running down a hallway shirtless when dared by other students."
The Toronto Star also spoke to Joseph Pham, a 25-year-old who took a class with Minassian at Seneca College just last week. Pham described Minassian as a "socially awkward" man who "kept to himself."