Calgary stabbing victims' families and friends shattered

Many Calgarians are stillreeling from what Calgary's police chief calls the city'sworst mass murder.

Lawrence Hong, 27, Joshua Hunter, 23, Kaitlin Perras, 23, Zackariah Rathwell, 21, and Jordan Segura, 22, were all fatally stabbed at a party early Tuesday morning.

• Calgary stabbing victims identified as students, bandmates
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• Matthew de Grood charged in Calgary's 'worst mass murder'

Five first-degree murder charges have been laidagainst22-year-old Matthew de Grood.

All six were at a house party in the northwest community of Brentwood to celebrate the last day of university classes.

Gaby Zuniga, who attended a vigil at a local art college today,knew all of the victims, many of the people at the party and the man charged with murder.

"He's been in the group when we hang out.I've spoken to him a handful of times buthe never seemed like the kind of person who would do something like this," she said.

"He was quiet and he was shy. but I never would have thought he would do something like this."

Zunigasays she's having a hard time accepting what happened.

"I'm struggling but I have my friends and my family and I've beenseeing counselling," she said.

Barkley Hunter, Joshs father, said his familyfrom Priddis, Alta., wants to tell his story, but iswaiting for other family members to come to Calgary.

We are still in shock, he said.

"We want people to know what a wonderful person Josh was."

He said many of his son'sfriends were at the family home Tuesday to offer condolences and remember their friend.

The family is working to make funeral arrangements.

'She inspired me'

Kaitlyn Harris and Kaitlyn MacArthur, who used to dance with Perras, went to the home where the stabbings took place to lay flowers and a pair of ballet shoes.

We are so sorry to the families of the other victims, and to the parents of the person who did thisI am so sorrytoo.- Kaitlyn Harris, friend ofKaitlinPerras

"She inspired me to be a better dancer. She was the reason I pursued ballet like I did. The most beautiful smile," said MacArthur, calling herkindhearted.

Harris said her friend's younger sister also does ballet, and had "every trait of her older sister."

"We are so sorry to the families of the other victims, and to the parents of the person who did thisI am so sorrytoo. You must be in a lot of pain," said Harris.

Speaking for the Perras family, stepcousin JenniferLarawayasked media for privacy.

"The family is beyond shattered," she wrote in an email.

"With your co-operation, the family will be able to grieve this senseless tragedy in private."

'We loved them more than anything'

Bandmates ofHunter andRathwell, who performed as Zackariahand The Prophets,expressed thanks on Facebook Tuesday nightfor the outpouring of condolences theyreceived.

We didn't lose two bandmates, we lost two brothers.- Facebook post fromZackariahand The Prophets

"We didn't lose two bandmates, we lost two brothers. Their shining shenanigans and shining light will always be with us. ZATP is done, because the band was all four of us. Without all four of us, the band doesn't exist. We love you all. And we loved them more than anything in the world."

Jesse Northey producedZackariah and The Prophets' latest album,Goodnight Icarus,at his recording studio in Lethbridge, Alta.

Its been really devastating. Its kind of hard to know how to feel in a situation like this, he said.

"I feel really weird. I haven't had very many people that I've known very well pass away. And so it breaks my heart. It is tragic and I really enjoyed their company and they were really, really good to me."

'Why is he gone?'

Coralya Zaayl, who became fast friends with Rathwellwhen they met at the schools orientation, said he had a positive energy and would always put a smile on your face.

He was not only known by his classmates at his level but also by the upper students because of the music, which was a very powerful driving force, said Zaayl.

Why is he gone? Why was he targeted? Why was he the person that died? Its hard because you don't expect that to happen. I think what he wants us to do is remember all the amazing things he has done with his life and to celebrate his life and just to pass his memory on.

The Calgary Folk Music Festival organizers said they were shocked by the loss of Hong,who volunteered at the annualmusic event for years.

Our condolences go out to all those who knew Lawrence, particularly the members of the dispatch crew and his family, wrote volunteer manager Talia Potter.

Lawrence's dedication and volunteer spirit will be missed by every organization that he was involved with and everyone who knew him.

'A terrible loss'

Segura was enrolled in religious studies and worked part-time at MacInnisand Holloway funeral home.

"It's a terrible loss," said funeraldirector Ernie Hagel, who is bringing in counsellors to help staff.

"He was a young man who cared, a young man who wanted to serve people, a young man who was very, very responsible."

Mayor calls for kindness

In a post on Facebook, Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi encouragedpeople to get help if they need itand asked Calgarians to respond to each other with kindness and compassion.

"We all might need a little more of that," he said.

Nenshiexpressed condolences to friends and families of the "five young people who lost their lives so senselessly."

"It is natural to speculate when these types of events occur," the post reads.

"We want to know what happened, who was involved, and why the outcome was so horrific. Those details will come out in time as my colleagues at the Calgary Police Service continue their investigation."