A moment of silence for late RMCP officer Shaelyn Yang was observed by the Vancouver Canucks at the Rogers Arena on Saturday.
The Burnaby officer was killed in the line of duty on Tuesday and was reportedly attempting to save Jongwon Ham’s life – when her own life was taken.
37-year-old Ham has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the incident.
During the tribute, the Rogers Arena public address announcer, Al Murdoch, described Yang as a “true hero.”
“Shaeyln’s capacity to help and care for others knew no bounds. She lived her life with compassion, not judgment. A true model. She will be deeply missed,” he said.
According to a police report, Yang had accompanied a City of Burnaby parks officer as he prepared to serve an eviction notice on a man who had been occupying a tent in a local park for several months.
Yang, a member of the Burnaby RCMP mental health and homeless outreach team, approached the tent and called out, but received no response.
The report states Yang announced she was going in to administer naloxone when the man responded, exited the tent and threatened the parks officer.
Both he and Yang then backed away and used their phones and radios to call for assistance.
According to the report, the man got angry, charged, and then stabbed Constable Yang in the chest area.
