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Vancouver Lapu Lapu Festival Attack: What We Know About Suspect Kai-Ji Adam Lo
Authorities have identified the suspect in the tragic Lapu Lapu Festival attack as 30-year-old Vancouver resident Kai-Ji Adam Lo.
The incident, which occurred on April 26, 2025, resulted in the deaths of at least 11 individuals and left dozens more injured.
At approximately 8:14 p.m. PDT, Lo drove a black Audi SUV into a crowd gathered for the Lapu Lapu Festival, a street celebration honoring Filipino heritage at East 41st Avenue and Fraser Street in Vancouver.
Witnesses report that the vehicle accelerated into festival-goers without warning, causing mass casualties during the event, which had drawn an estimated 100,000 attendees throughout the day.
Following the attack, brave members of the public subdued Lo and held him against a fence until Vancouver Police arrived to take him into custody.
Lo has been charged with eight counts of second-degree murder, with authorities indicating that additional charges are likely as the investigation progresses.
He appeared in court on April 27, 2025, where he did not seek bail. If convicted, he faces a potential life sentence.
Kai Ji Adam Lo’s nationality has not been officially confirmed; however, based on his name, he is believed to be of East Asian (likely Chinese) descent.
While Lo did not have a formal criminal record, police confirmed multiple prior interactions with him, largely related to mental health concerns.
Family members had expressed alarm over Lo’s deteriorating mental health in the hours leading up to the attack.
His personal history includes significant trauma, notably the murder of his brother Alexander in January 2024 and his mother’s attempted suicide in August 2024.
These events reportedly exacerbated his mental health struggles.
Despite repeated red flags, including police encounters, Lo remained in the community without mandated intervention, raising serious questions about systemic gaps in mental health response protocols.
Investigators have ruled out terrorism as a motive, attributing Lo’s actions primarily to unresolved and severe mental health issues.
Authorities continue to piece together Lo’s movements and mental state leading up to the attack.
The case has ignited broader discussions around festival security, public safety, and the handling of individuals known to pose potential risks due to mental illness.
The tragedy has deeply shaken Vancouver’s Filipino-Canadian community.
Vigils have been held to honor the victims, and leaders including Premier David Eby and Mayor Ken Sim have extended their condolences.
The community is mourning the lives lost while grappling with the senseless nature of the violence.
The investigation remains active, and further updates are expected as authorities gather more information about Lo’s background, mental health history, and the circumstances surrounding the attack.
Authorities have identified one of the victims killed in the devastating car-ramming attack at Vancouver’s Lapu Lapu Festival as Rizza Azzir.
The suspect, a 30-year-old man from Vancouver, remains in custody. Officials have confirmed that, at this time, the incident is not being treated as an act of terrorism.
According to Vancouver Police, the attack resulted in the deaths of 11 individuals, with dozens more injured.
Patients have been transported to nine different hospitals across the region, and authorities warn that the death toll may continue to rise in the coming days and weeks.
The suspect, whose name has not been officially released in this statement, has a significant criminal history, with over 60 prior police interactions.
The tragic incident unfolded just after 8:00 p.m. PT on Saturday, near East 41st Avenue and Fraser Street, where the Lapu Lapu Day Block Party was concluding after drawing up to 100,000 attendees throughout the day.
Interim Vancouver Police Chief Steve Rai confirmed that the driver of a black SUV drove into the crowd, causing mass casualties.
Speaking Sunday morning, Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed the nation’s sorrow, stating that more than 20 individuals were injured.
He described the event as a time meant for joy and community celebration, which was instead marked by horrific violence. “Canadians are heartbroken at what police are describing as a car-ramming attack,” Carney said. He further extended condolences to the families of those killed and injured, later posting on social media that he was “devastated to hear about the horrific events” in Vancouver.
Following the attack, Vancouver Coastal Health declared a “code orange,” signaling a mass casualty event. While initial reports confirmed nine fatalities, updated figures early Sunday morning revised that number to 11.
The Lapu Lapu Day Festival honors the legacy of Lapu-Lapu, a Filipino hero and Indigenous resistance fighter who opposed Spanish colonization in the 16th century.
Saturday marked the second annual celebration of the event in Vancouver, emphasizing the Filipino-Canadian community’s enduring contributions and the spirit of bayanihan — collective community effort.
British Columbia’s Filipino community is the third-largest cultural group in the province, following South Asian and Chinese populations.
Statistics Canada reports that more than 174,000 individuals of Filipino descent live in B.C., comprising approximately 3.5 percent of the province’s total population.
The investigation into the attack remains active, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.