Tragedy strikes vancouver festival: Suspect charged with multiple counts of murder
Department of Research, Studies and International News 28-04-2025
Authorities have formally charged Kai-Ji Adam Lo, 30, with eight counts of second-degree murder following a devastating vehicle attack during a Filipino heritage festival in Vancouver. The British Columbia Prosecution Service confirmed that additional charges may still be filed as investigations continue. Officials clarified that terrorism has been ruled out as a motive, citing the suspect’s documented mental health struggles.
Lo, a local resident of Vancouver, remains in custody after his court appearance. The attack, which took place during the city’s second annual Lapu Lapu Day festival, claimed 11 lives and left dozens injured, some critically. Victims ranged in age from five to 65 years old. Law enforcement arrested Lo at the scene, where his black Audi SUV was found severely damaged.
The incident unfolded on Saturday evening, just after 8 p.m., when the driver breached a barricade and accelerated into a densely crowded street in South Vancouver. The street was lined with food trucks and filled with families enjoying the festivities. Shocking video footage later surfaced, revealing the immediate aftermath, bodies scattered across the street, emergency responders rushing to assist victims, and a community thrown into chaos.
Prime Minister Mark Carney, who interrupted his re-election campaign to address the nation, expressed profound sorrow. Meeting with members of the Filipino community, he participated in a candlelight vigil and laid flowers at a growing memorial. Carney, visibly moved, stated, “Our hearts are broken. Families are enduring an unimaginable nightmare.”
Emphasizing the Filipino spirit of Bayanihan, community solidarity, Carney pledged that Canadians would unite in support and healing. “We will comfort the grieving and care for one another,” he said.
Eyewitness accounts described the terror of the moment. Vendor Kris Pangilinan, who had set up a booth at the event, recalled the horrifying scene: the car slowly breaching the barrier before suddenly accelerating into a sea of festivalgoers. He likened the tragedy to a bowling ball striking pins, with bodies tossed high into the air.
Another attendee, Carayn Nulada, shared how she shielded her young grandchildren with her own body as chaos erupted. Her daughter narrowly escaped serious harm when the vehicle grazed her arm, causing her to fall.
Bystanders quickly subdued the suspect until authorities arrived. Footage circulating online showed a young man pinned against a fence, surrounded by shouting witnesses and a security guard.
In response, Vancouver authorities established a 24-hour support center for those seeking missing loved ones.
Saturday’s celebration had drawn nearly 100,000 participants, a testament to Vancouver’s vibrant Filipino community, which according to 2021 data, numbers over 38,000, about 5.9% of the city’s population.
The attack has cast a heavy shadow over Canada just days before its national election. Campaigning events were promptly canceled as political leaders shifted focus to mourning and solidarity in the wake of one of Vancouver’s darkest days.
