The medical examiner identified 35-year-old Cecilia Lam, an SF State student, as the victim of an apparent murder-suicide that occurred in the SoMa District during a domestic dispute last week, according to SF Weekly.
“The San Francisco Police were called numerous times from approximately 8:30 p.m. on October 9th until the final call at 5 a.m. on October 10th as Cecilia’s abuser broke down the door and shot and killed her,“ Sunny Faichung Lam wrote on a GoFundMe webpage for the deceased’s memorial fund.
Last Friday, police reported to the 500 block of Natoma Avenue, where they found both Cedric Young Jr., 29, and Lam suffering from Gunshot wounds, SF Weekly reported. Young allegedly shot Lam before he killed himself, sending her to San Francisco General Hospital in critical condition where she would survive until Tuesday.
“Cecilia was a passionate advocate for the awareness and prevention of domestic violence against women,” said Sunny Faichang Lam, brother of the deceased. “She was an amazing, brave, kind, and compassionate human being that regularly volunteered her time and efforts at local womens’ shelters across San Francisco.”
At SF State, Lam pursued a degree in Asian American studies and hoped to continue her education at the University of California Berkeley to obtain a master’s degree, her brother wrote on the webpage.
Before the fatal incident, police had booked Young at the San Francisco County Jail, according to SF Weekly, where he was released Friday morning. He then allegedly went to the apartment he shared with Lam — to pick up some things while police waited — and left, only to return one hour later to kill himself and shoot Lam.
“Although her abuser was briefly taken into custody for being under the influence around midnight, he was released after only 4 hours,” Sunny Faichung Lam wrote online. “One hour later, he shot Cecilia in the head. Cecilia was transported to SF General Hospital, but it was too late.”
Contributions to Lam’s memorial fund can be made on the GoFundMe webpage here, where almost $7,000 has been contributed within two days. The family hopes to raise $20,000 for her memorial services and awareness for domestic violence.
