EAST LANSDOWNE, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — After a balloon release Saturday afternoon at Yeadon Community Park, friends, loved ones and neighbors gathered for a candlelight vigil in honor of the East Lansdowne family of five who died in their home on Wednesday, which burned to the ground.
East Lansdowne Mayor Majovie Bland spoke first to more than 100 people who gathered for the vigil in front of the site where their house once stood to pay their respects.
“East Lansdowne, after these cameras go away, we will be here,” Bland said.
“This is an unimaginable loss that no one can fathom, expect, or prepare for… but we can see how much they were loved by the community, family and friends that they touched, and it means a lot to see so much support from this community.”
Xuong and Britni McLaughlin Le, and their three children Natalya, Nakayla and Xavier, as well as Xuong’s brother, Cahn Van Le, all died in the family’s home on Wednesday. Investigators believe Cahn shot his brother’s family and started the fire, though the investigation is still in progress.
“Britni was a super woman. She was the homemaker. She led the family,” said Janae McLaughlin, her sister.
“Her heart was larger than this house, larger than this block. If you were lucky to be her friend, she was one of the most [loyal] friends you could ever ask for — and there’s many here who could testify.”
Brother Justin McLaughlin called Britni the governor of the family and remembered Xuong as a supportive, loving father, and an avid sports fan. “Truly the kindest soul ever,” Justin said. “If you knew Xuong, Xuong wore two things: a fitted hat that either had the Eagles, the Sixers or the Flyers on it — and slides with socks.”
Natalya, 17, was the artist among her siblings. She was planning to go off to college after this year. Nakayla, 13, was a dancer and athlete and was soon to start high school. And 10-year-old Xavier, a gamer, is remembered as his sisters’ protector, despite being the youngest.
“To see how Britni and Xuong fostered such beautiful children and allowed for that love to touch this community, we will forever be grateful,” Janae said.
Police recovered the bodies of all five family members, as well as the body of Xuong’s brother, from the house in the days following the incident. A partially melted rifle was also recovered from the site.
“As hard as it is, we are grateful that none had to survive the other and live such a horrific event — and know that they all died the same way they lived, which was together,” said Justin.
The Le family’s grandparents were able to escape the house before the fire started. Two police officers were shot at the scene, but have since been released from the hospital.
Earlier in the day, hundreds of friends, loved ones and neighbors met at Yeadon Community Park to release hundreds of pink and blue balloons into the gray sky above.
Tanya Harris, who knew the family through her sister, Sandra, who worked with Xuong Le, said she met Britni when they were both bridesmaids in her sister’s wedding.
“She was always really, really friendly,” Tanya said. “Someone you feel comfortable and trustworthy to talk to, even about personal things.”
She expressed admiration for Britni and her husband: “Proactive parents, very involved in all their kids’ lives. Very, very good people that you can rely on and trust.”
Tanya and Sandra say they knew Britni most of their lives, and their kids grew up together. While the sisters say things will never be the same without their friend, they said the support they saw on Saturday means a lot.
“We’ve always been in each other’s lives — family occasions, holidays — and, you know, she was great with my children,” Nancy said. She says the loss of their friends has made a hole in her heart.
“They were truly loved,” said Sandra. “The whole family was truly loved. To see this support from family, friends, loved ones, the community, it’s really great to finally try to put a closure to this, so we can honor them now.”