Dear friends, family, colleagues and art-lovers:
On Wednesday February 7th 2024 my tiny, close-knit community on the edge of West Philadelphia made national news when an entire family perished in a house fire that began with the reported shooting of a child.
According to WHYY News in Philadelphia:
"Delaware County law enforcement agencies rushed to East Lansdowne on Wednesday after receiving a 911 call about a child being shot. The grandparents, who escaped the home, called 911, accusing their son of shooting their granddaughter, according to 6abc Action News. Police arrived to gunfire. Shortly after, an occupant in the home set the building ablaze. [Delaware County District Attorney] Jack Stollsteimer alleges 43-year-old Cahn Le, who died in the fire, is behind the death of his brother’s family and the shooting injuries of his niece and two responding officers."
A statement from the victims' family:
"Britni and Xuong were a happily married couple for 17 years, loving and devoted parents to their three children, their extended family, and their beloved friends. Their three children all excelled in academics, the arts, and sports. Our hearts are broken and we vow to cherish the memories of our loved ones and we will work to ensure that their legacies live on. We would like to express our sincere and heartfelt gratitude for your thoughts, prayers, and condolences during this difficult time. We kindly ask that our privacy be respected in this matter as we are still processing this significant loss."
If you've been following my work for the past few years, you may be aware of my Houses of Lansdowne series (my Pandemic Project turned full-time house portraiture business: read more about that project here). In an effort to use my talents for good and help to heal my community, a percentage of proceeds from all sales of my Houses of Lansdowne Watercolor Series and corresponding book will be donated to the surviving family members, until further notice (Of course, you can always donate directly to the family's GoFundMe).
If you'd ever admired a particular home or painting from the series (or if you've ever admired Lansdowne in general!), now is the time to invest in a piece of original art that will benefit the community that inspired it. This horrendous tragedy took place one mile from my house and has directly impacted people I know and care about- not to mention the community at large. Lansdowne prides itself on being an exceptionally welcoming, compassionate and diverse community that truly looks out for its own. Please consider purchasing a House of Lansdowne watercolor or book to help to heal the Lansdowne/East Lansdowne communities, and sharing this information with your networks.
Thank you so much for your continued support and for keeping my friends and neighbors in mind.
Erica
Learn more about this story:
CBS News
NBC10 Philadelphia
6ABC Philadelphia
Featured image: Xavier Le (10), Nakayla Le (13), Britni McLaughlin Le (37), Natalya Le (17), Xuong Le (40), violently perished in their home on February 7th 2024.
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