VANCOUVER, B.C. — Kai-Ji Adam Lo, 30, has been formally charged with murder after allegedly driving his vehicle through a crowd at a Filipino festival in Vancouver, killing 11 people. The incident occurred Saturday night during Vancouver’s Lapu Lapu Day festival, an event celebrating Filipino culture and honoring the chieftain Lapu-Lapu, who defeated Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in 1521.
The Vancouver Police Department confirmed on Sunday that the British Columbia Prosecution Service has charged Lo with eight counts of second-degree murder, with additional charges anticipated. Lo appeared in court on Sunday and remains in police custody. The ages of the victims ranged from 5 to 65, and more than two dozen others were injured in the attack.
Vancouver Police said their efforts to identify all of the victims are ongoing. Interim Police Chief Steve Rai stated in a press conference that, while a potential motive has not been confirmed, authorities do not consider the incident an act of terrorism. He added that Lo had “a significant history of interactions with police and healthcare professionals related to mental health.”
“This is the darkest day in our city’s history,” Chief Rai said. “The actions of a single person shattered our collective sense of safety.”
Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada visited the Filipino community on Sunday, offering condolences and laying flowers at a memorial established at the festival site. “In Vancouver tonight, we laid flowers in memory of the victims of the devastating Lapu Lapu festival attack,” he said. “In this incredibly difficult moment, we will comfort the grieving, care for one another and unite in common purpose.”
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim, deeply moved by the tragedy, called it “unthinkable.” “What happened at the Lapu Lapu festival last night was unthinkable,” Mayor Sim said. “Families gathered to celebrate, to dance, to share their culture and their pride, and in an instant, their world was shattered.”
To address safety concerns, Mayor Sim announced a review of event safety protocols, including traffic control measures and barriers, to ensure better protection for future gatherings. “Our first priority is and will always be protecting the residents of Vancouver,” he emphasized.
In a show of solidarity, the City of Vancouver lit City Hall in red, blue, and yellow on Sunday night in honor of the Filipino community.
