In a quiet Pennsylvania neighborhood, a horrific family tragedy has left a community in mourning and searching for answers.
On Wednesday, February 7, 2024, a day that started like any other in East Lansdowne, Delaware County, an argument evolved into an unthinkable act of violence that claimed the lives of six family members, including three children, and injured two police officers.
Canh Le, 43, is accused of fatally shooting his younger brother Xuong Le, 40, along with Xuong’s wife, Britni McLaughlin-Le, 37, and their two daughters, Natalya, 17, and Nakayla, 13.
The incident did not end with the shootings. Canh Le then set the family home ablaze, tragically resulting in the death of the couple’s youngest child, Xavier, 10, from smoke inhalation.
This sequence of events was detailed by Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer in a press conference, shedding light on a day marked by incomprehensible violence.
The conflict reportedly began with an argument between Canh Le and his niece Nakayla, after which Le retrieved a gun from his bedroom and began shooting.
“Everybody wants to know why. I don’t think we will ever get an answer. Canh Le took that answer to his grave,” Stollsteimer remarked, highlighting the profound sense of loss and unanswered questions that haunt those affected.
When first responders, 44-year-old East Lansdowne Police Officer John Meehan and 54-year-old Lansdowne Police Officer David Schiazza, arrived at the Le family home in response to a report of a girl being shot, they were immediately met with gunfire from Canh Le, who was firing from the third floor.
The situation, described by a SWAT specialist as far from ordinary, resulted in Meehan sustaining an arm injury and Schiazza a leg injury. Thanks to the quick action of the Upper Darby Police Department, both officers were rescued while under fire and transported to Penn Presbyterian Hospital in Philadelphia, with Superintendent Timothy Bernhardt highlighting the use of ballistic shields in the rescue operation.
Both officers, veterans with 22 years of service, are expected to fully recover after Schiazza was discharged on Thursday afternoon and Meehan was released following arm surgery on Friday.
The episode ended with Canh Le taking his own life, leaving his parents, who also resided in the house and survived the ordeal, in shock.
In 2006, Canh Le was arrested for making terroristic threats, trespassing, and disorderly conduct. He was put in a diversion program, did community service, and paid a fine.
Stollsteimer expressed sorrow over the family’s loss, underscoring their journey from South Vietnam to build a new life in the United States.
Amidst this tragedy, the McLaughlin family remembered Britni and Xuong’s 17 years of marriage, their dedication to their children and community, and their children’s academics, arts, and sports achievements. Mourning their irreplaceable loss, the family expressed gratitude for the community’s support and requested privacy as they grieve and seek to honor the legacies of their loved ones.
The community has come together to remember the victims. A GoFundMe page established to support Britni McLaughlin-Le’s family describes Xuong as “a true gentle soul” and Britni as “a real-life superwoman,” highlighting the depth of loss felt by those who knew them. The fundraiser paints a picture of a family devoted to each other and their community, now mourned by those left behind.
Delaware County, known for its tight-knit neighborhoods and family-oriented atmosphere, has been left to reconcile the reality of this tragedy with the sense of security that has been so abruptly shattered.
In the words of Stollsteimer, this incident is “an absolute, unmitigated tragedy for everybody in this community,” a sentiment echoed by all who have been touched by the events of that day.