Tragedy Strikes Vancouver Festival: Man Charged After Deadly Attack Leaves 11 Dead
A heartbreaking tragedy unfolded at a vibrant street festival in Vancouver, Canada, when a vehicle sped into a crowd, killing at least 11 people — including a five-year-old girl. Authorities have charged 30-year-old Kai-Ji Adam Lo with eight counts of second-degree murder, with additional charges expected. Lo appeared in court late Sunday and remains in custody, according to the Vancouver Police Department.
Acting Police Chief Steve Rai called Saturday’s horrific event at the Lapu Lapu Day festival “the darkest day in the city’s history.” The celebration, which drew up to 100,000 attendees, was shattered in an instant.
While the names of the victims have yet to be released, officials confirmed that dozens more were injured. Investigators say the attack is not being treated as terrorism but revealed that the suspect was known to law enforcement before the tragedy.
Organizers of the beloved Lapu Lapu festival expressed deep sorrow, noting that Vancouver’s tight-knit Filipino community is mourning deeply — and that the pain caused by this senseless act will linger for years.
The attack occurred around 8:14 PM local time on Saturday (03:14 GMT) at East 43rd Avenue and Fraser Street in the city’s south side.
Eyewitnesses recounted scenes of chaos and heartbreak.
“There’s a car that just went through the whole street, hitting everyone,” Abigail Andiso, a local resident, told the Associated Press. “I saw one man dead on the ground. As I moved toward the end of the street, there were more casualties. Maybe 20 people were down. Everyone was panicking, everyone was screaming.”
The community now grapples with unimaginable loss as it begins the long road to healing.
Vancouver Mourns After Deadly Festival Attack: Suspect Detained as Community Grieves
The suspect, Kai-Ji Adam Lo, was apprehended by courageous bystanders at the scene before being taken into police custody, authorities confirmed. Acting Police Chief Steve Rai, speaking at a separate briefing on Sunday, warned the death toll could still rise in the coming days.
While Chief Rai refrained from speculating on a motive, he emphasized, “We can now say with confidence that the evidence does not suggest this was an act of terrorism.” He also revealed that Lo had a “significant history of interactions” with both police and mental health professionals.
The annual Lapu Lapu Day festival — a major event in Vancouver’s thriving Filipino community of over 140,000 — honors the Filipino hero who resisted Spanish colonization in the 1500s. Police had conducted a security assessment prior to the celebration, partially closing nearby roads. However, the area where the attack occurred — filled mostly with food trucks — had no barriers in place, Rai said. He called the tragedy a “watershed moment” that would fundamentally reshape how the city approaches public safety at large events.
Community leaders described the emotional aftermath as devastating.
RJ Aquino, head of Filipino BC, said, “Saturday night was extremely difficult, and the community will feel this for a long time.” He added that panic and fear spread quickly among Filipino families, many frantically calling loved ones.
“I don’t think my phone has buzzed that much in my entire life,” Aquino said. “There was so much panic—and immense relief when someone answered.”
By Sunday, a makeshift memorial had sprung up at the site, as mourners laid flowers and paid silent tribute.
Donna, an eyewitness at the festival, captured the sorrow felt by many: “People were here to celebrate and have fun. This is tragic.”
The attack comes just days before Canada’s federal election on April 28. Prime Minister Mark Carney canceled Liberal Party rallies in Calgary and Richmond, addressing the nation in a somber televised message where he said he was “heartbroken” and “devastated” by the tragedy. Carney visited the attack site Sunday evening, lighting a candle and standing silently alongside grieving community members. He also met privately with the victims’ families and attended a vigil at a local church.
Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre of the Conservative Party continued his campaign but made an unscheduled visit to a church in Mississauga to show solidarity with the Filipino community. “I wanted to be here with you,” Poilievre said, appearing alongside his wife, Anaida.
Other political leaders expressed similar sorrow. British Columbia’s New Democratic Party leader David Eby said he was “shocked and heartbroken,” while federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, who had attended the festival earlier on Saturday, reflected emotionally on the tragedy.
“It’s heart-breaking that such joy could be torn apart so violently,” Singh said. “I saw families gathered together, children dancing, pride in their culture, their history, their community.”
