VANCOUVER, British Columbia (WE) — In a tragedy that has shaken Canada on the eve of a crucial federal election, murder charges were filed Sunday against a suspect in a horrifying car ramming attack that killed 11 people and injured dozens more at a Filipino heritage festival in Vancouver, British Columbia. Victims ranged in age from just 5 years old to 65.
The British Columbia Prosecution Service has charged Kai-Ji Adam Lo, 30, a Vancouver resident, with eight counts of second-degree murder, while more charges are expected as investigations continue. Authorities ruled out terrorism but said Lo had a “significant history” of mental health issues.
Lo appeared in court Sunday and remains in custody. No attorney was listed for him in online court documents, and attempts by the Associated Press to reach legal representation were unsuccessful.
The Horrific Attack
The attack occurred around 8 p.m. Saturday during the Lapu Lapu Day celebrations in South Vancouver, an event honoring a Filipino national hero. Witnesses described a black Audi SUV that slowly bypassed barricades before suddenly accelerating into the dense crowd of festivalgoers.
Video footage showed a horrific scene: bodies lying strewn along the narrow street lined with food trucks, with the front of the suspect’s vehicle visibly crumpled from the impact.
“This is the darkest day in Vancouver’s history,” said Steve Rai, Interim Chief of the Vancouver Police Department, at a somber news conference.
“The person we have in custody does have a significant history of interactions with police and healthcare professionals related to mental health,” Rai added.
Witnesses Describe a Nightmare Scene
Kris Pangilinan, a vendor at the festival, recounted the horrifying moment:
“He sideswiped someone on his right side and I was like, ‘Oh, yo yo.’ And then he slammed on the gas. It sounded like an F1 car starting a race,” Pangilinan said. “Bodies were flying higher than the food trucks. It looked like a bowling ball hitting pins.”
Pangilinan, who brought a pop-up clothing booth to the event, emphasized that he found it difficult to believe the attack was motivated by hate toward the Filipino community.
Meanwhile, video circulating on social media showed bystanders detaining the suspect before police arrived. A man in a black hoodie, later identified as Lo, appeared visibly distraught, holding his head and apologizing.
Heroic Efforts Amid Tragedy
Some attendees risked their lives to save others. Carayn Nulada said she shielded her grandchildren with her body as the SUV barreled through.
“The car hit my daughter’s arm and she fell, but she got up looking for us,” Nulada said.
She later found herself at Vancouver General Hospital, seeking updates on her brother, who suffered multiple fractures in the attack.
James Cruzat, a local business owner, described the immediate aftermath:
“We saw people on the road crying, others shouting or running. Some bodies were lifeless; others were injured.”
Vincent Reynon, 17, called the scene “something straight out of a horror movie.”
Adonis Quita, a Filipino immigrant reunited with his son in 2024, described dragging his 9-year-old boy to safety:
“He kept saying ‘I’m scared, I’m scared.’ We prayed afterward.”
Government Response: Mourning, Support, and Urgency
The tragedy forced Prime Minister Mark Carney to cancel campaign rallies scheduled for Sunday and refocus on addressing the nation’s grief.
“Last night, families lost brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters,” Carney said. “To the Filipino Canadian community and to everyone in Vancouver, I offer my deepest condolences.”
Carney later joined British Columbia Premier David Eby and community leaders at a vigil.
Kenneth Sim, Mayor of Vancouver, called it the city’s “darkest day” and urged unity:
“Vancouver remains a safe city. We will not let fear define us.”
The festival was celebrating the life of Datu Lapu-Lapu, a 16th-century Filipino leader known for resisting Spanish colonization — a symbol of resilience, particularly meaningful to Vancouver’s Filipino community, which numbered over 38,600 according to Statistics Canada in 2021.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued a statement mourning the victims and urging support for the Filipino community in Canada. The Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver is coordinating assistance efforts.
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Suspect’s Troubled Past
Kai-Ji Adam Lo’s history reveals a backdrop of personal tragedy and deteriorating mental health.
In early 2024, Lo’s brother, Alexander Lo, was murdered in Vancouver. Dwight William Kematch, 39, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder after Alexander’s body was found near Knight Street and East 33rd Avenue.
In an emotional GoFundMe page seeking funeral expenses, Adam Lo wrote:
“Despite our disagreements, the harsh truth that he’s no longer with us hits me with overwhelming force.”
Later that year, Lo sought donations again to support his mother after she attempted suicide, devastated by her son’s death.
Sources told Postmedia that a family member had recently contacted a hospital psychiatric ward about Lo’s worsening mental health. It remains unclear what actions were taken in response.
Lo had no prior criminal record, but Vancouver Police confirmed they had “significant” and “recent” interactions with him and that healthcare workers had also raised concerns.
Mental Health and Public Safety
The devastating incident has reignited debate about mental health services in British Columbia. Premier David Eby emphasized the urgent need for “interventionist” mental health systems:
“We have a huge need. Secure involuntary beds just opened in Surrey Pretrial Services Centre, but it’s only the beginning.”
Eby noted it’s critical to investigate whether better healthcare or security protocols could have prevented Saturday’s tragedy.
“There are so many questions British Columbians have. We will learn those answers and take action to prevent this from happening again,” he vowed.
Vancouver’s Filipino Community in Mourning
Vancouver is home to over 38,600 residents of Filipino heritage, according to Statistics Canada. The festival honored Datu Lapu-Lapu, a Filipino national hero who resisted Spanish colonization in the 16th century.
Despite the tragedy, Premier Eby urged the community to celebrate their rich culture and resilience.
“The Filipino community gives so much to British Columbia,” Eby said. “Yesterday was a celebration of their contributions.”
Security and Community Resilience
In the wake of the attack, city officials are reviewing event security policies. Vancouver Police said barricades had been properly installed but will reexamine whether more robust protections are needed at public events.
Despite the horror, Vancouver’s large Filipino community remains determined to honor their heritage and persevere.
“The soul of native resistance embodied by Lapu-Lapu is also the spirit that defines our response to this tragedy,” said organizers from the United Filipino-Canadian Associations in British Columbia.
British Columbia’s Filipino community, deeply woven into sectors like healthcare, education, and hospitality, vowed that fear would not replace pride and celebration.
As Vancouver mourns its loss and begins healing, the city’s unity, resilience, and compassion shine brightly amid a terrible darkness.
