A family in Calgary is grieving the loss of Adonai Tekle, a 24-year-old who passed away on Thursday as a result of injuries sustained while attempting to defuse a conflict at a post-hours gathering. The altercation initially involved two individuals at a restaurant on 17 Avenue S.E., but quickly escalated into a larger confrontation involving multiple people, according to Calgary police.
During the incident, Tekle, who was trying to calm the situation, was struck in the head. Following this, two of Tekle’s friends took him to a residence in Marlborough, where he was later picked up by a family member. He was discovered unresponsive around 3:30 p.m. and was transported to the hospital by EMS. Tragically, he succumbed to his injuries on Thursday.
Adonai Tekle was the eldest son of Meaza Tekle, who immigrated to Calgary from Eritrea with her family. Meaza described her son as a kind-hearted individual who always supported her and helped care for the family. Dan Tekle, Adonai’s brother, emphasized Adonai’s selfless nature, highlighting his efforts to intervene in the conflict and maintain peace.
Adanech Sahilie, the executive director of the Immigrant Outreach Society, expressed the profound impact of Tekle’s death on Calgary’s Eritrean community, noting the community’s tradition of coming together to mourn during times of loss. Danny Egubat, another member of the Eritrean community in Calgary, lamented the tragedy, emphasizing the community’s desire for peace and their fatigue from experiencing such losses.
Calgary police announced that Dawit Desta Yosief, aged 24, has been charged with manslaughter in connection to Tekle’s death and is set to appear in court on Tuesday.
