VANCOUVER, Canada. A man with a significant history of mental health issues rammed his SUV through a crowded Filipino community street festival in Vancouver, killing at least 11 people and injuring dozens more, authorities confirmed on Sunday.
The suspect, identified as 30-year-old Kai-Ji Adam Lo, has been charged with eight counts of second-degree murder, with prosecutors in British Columbia stating that “further charges are anticipated,” according to a post by the Vancouver Police on X. Lo appeared in court on Sunday but has not yet entered a plea.
“There is no evidence of terrorism,” Vancouver Police Interim Chief Steve Rai said during a press conference. “This is the darkest day in our city’s history.”
The incident occurred around 8 p.m. on Saturday (0300 GMT Sunday) in the Sunset neighborhood of Vancouver, a district known for its large Asian population. Festival-goers were celebrating Lapu-Lapu Day, honoring the Filipino hero who resisted Spanish colonization in the 16th century.
Authorities said Lo drove a black Audi SUV through the crowded celebration, striking victims aged between 5 and 65. At least two dozen people sustained injuries, some critically, and police warned that the death toll could rise.
Witnesses described scenes of horror. “I got outside my food truck, I looked down the road and there’s just bodies everywhere,” said Yoseb Vardeh, co-owner of Bao Buns, in an emotional interview with Postmedia. “He went through the whole block, he went straight down the middle.”
Another witness reported seeing festival-goers tackle the driver and hold him against a fence until police arrived. “The driver tried to run but was chased down and held for about 10 minutes,” a witness who requested anonymity told local media.
Photos from the aftermath showed a dark Audi SUV with crumpled front fenders and a damaged hood near rows of colorful food trucks, with debris and personal belongings scattered across the road.
In response to the tragedy, Prime Minister Mark Carney delayed his campaign activities and traveled to Vancouver, expressing solidarity with the victims and the Filipino community. “Last night, families lost a sister, a brother, a mother, a father, a son or a daughter. Those families are living every family’s nightmare,” Carney said in Hamilton, Ontario. “I join all Canadians in mourning with you. I know that Canadians are united with you.”
British Columbia Premier David Eby also spoke near the site, struggling with emotion. “It’s hard not to feel rage towards the man who murdered innocent people,” Eby said. “I want to turn the rage that I feel into ensuring that we stand with the Filipino community, that we deliver what they need, that we stand with those families who have lost loved ones.”
The Filipino community, meanwhile, has begun mourning together. “The community will feel this for a long time,” said RJ Aquino, chair of Filipino BC, a community advocacy group. “We see and hear the support from around the world at this point.”
Saturday’s festival had drawn large crowds and featured Filipino food, performances, and cultural displays. Mable Elmore, a member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly who attended the event, recalled the joyous moments before the horror unfolded. “Everybody was happy and getting ready to go. And that’s when, that’s when the incident happened,” Elmore said through tears. “We are in incredible pain.”
Lapu-Lapu Day, officially recognized in British Columbia since 2023, commemorates the heroism of Datu Lapu-Lapu, a Filipino chieftain who defeated Spanish explorer Ferdinand Magellan in 1521.
Police said the investigation would be extensive, involving more than 100 officers, and continued to assure the public that there was no ongoing threat. However, questions remain about security measures at large community events, as the festival had no dedicated police presence or heavy vehicle barriers.
Mass casualty vehicle attacks, while rare in Canada, have occurred before, including the 2018 Toronto van attack that killed 10 people and the 2021 London, Ontario truck attack that targeted a Muslim family.
As the city mourns, the Filipino community and broader public are uniting in grief and solidarity, determined to heal from one of Vancouver’s darkest days.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
