Family mourns man credited with trying to calm dispute during after-hours party
CBC
A Calgary family is mourning the loss of 24-year-old Adonai Tekle, who died Thursday from injuries he received while trying to calm a dispute during an after-hours party.
Calgary police said the altercation began between two men at a restaurant in the 2800 block of 17 Avenue S.E. on Monday around 6:20 a.m., but escalated into a large confrontation involving multiple people.
"During the incident, one man, who was attempting to calm the situation, was struck in the head," police said.
Police said two of Tekle's friends then brought him to a home in the northeast community of Marlborough roughly 40 minutes later, where he was later picked up by a family member.
Around 3:30 p.m., Tekle was found unresponsive and was taken to hospital by EMS, investigators say. On Thursday, he died of his injuries.
The Tekle family immigrated to Calgary from Eritrea, and Adonai was Meaza Tekle's eldest son.
She described Adonai as a lovely boy who always stood by her and helped take care of the family. Dan Tekle, Adonai's brother, acted as a translator during a CBC News interview with Meaza Tekle on Saturday.
Dan added that his brother's actions prior to his death speak to his character.
"Adonai was there trying to stop the fight, trying to calm the situation," he said. "He was trying to do the right thing."
Adonai Tekle lived a selfless life, always looking for ways to help others, he added.
"I want people to remember that about him," Dan said, adding that his brother, who was a mechanic, always looked out for him and was "like a dad" to him, making sure Dan knew right from wrong.
Adanech Sahilie, executive director of the Immigrant Outreach Society, told CBC News that Tekle's death is being felt across Calgary's Eritrean community.
"When you experience such sudden loss, it's really heartbreaking," she said.
"In our culture, people will gather together and mourn with family. That's how we grieve as a community."
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