Lorenzo Hong never imagined it would be the last time he would see his eldest son, but their final ride to the University of Calgary is the memory a grieving father treasures the most.
Lawrence Hong tragically lost his life at an end-of-the-school-year party in Calgary’s Brentwood neighbourhood. It’s been two years since his death.
SPECIAL SERIES: Remembering the Brentwood 5
His family is clinging to their memories and mourning the potential of an accomplished young man.
“I was driving slow, below the speed limit. I was enjoying the ride, listening to somebody so smart and so wise,” Lawrence’s father said about their last memorable ride.
“He had matured so much, that’s what we had been wanting to see,” said Lawrence’s mother, Marlene Hong. “That’s what we dreamed of.”
The Hong family admits they are broken and are struggling to move forward. His friends and former colleagues are also grieving the loss of a young man admired for his unrelenting advocacy.
READ MORE: Timeline of the Brentwood tragedy
Hong, 27, Kaiti Perras, 23, Joshua Hunter, 23, Zackariah Rathwell, 21, and Jordan Segura, 22, were murdered at the party on April 15, 2014. Their parents will be leaning on each other throughout the trial of the young man accused in the case, who goes to trial Monday.