World
Suspect who drove into crowd at Lapu Lapu Festival identified as 30-year-old Vancouver man
The Vancouver Police Department is actively investigating a mass casualty incident that occurred during a neighborhood street festival in South Vancouver on Saturday night, resulting in multiple deaths and injuries.
At approximately 8:14 p.m. on April 26, 2025, a man driving a black Audi SUV drove into a large crowd attending the Lapu Lapu Day Festival near East 43rd Avenue and Fraser Street.
The vehicle struck numerous attendees before coming to a stop.
A 30-year-old Vancouver man was arrested at the scene without further incident.
He remains in custody as the investigation continues.
Preliminary reports indicate that at least eight individuals, including a child, have died as a result of the crash.
At least six others sustained serious injuries and were transported to area hospitals for treatment.
Suspect who drove into crowd at Lapu Lapu Festival identified as 30-year-old Vancouver man. A man driving a black Audi SUV drove into a large crowd attending the Lapu Lapu Day Festival near East 43rd Avenue and Fraser Street. #Canada Driver arrested.https://t.co/CZKAfOYeC2 pic.twitter.com/FreItY5q4V— News Channel3 Now (@newschannel3now) April 27, 2025
Vancouver Police have stated that an official update on casualty numbers will be provided during a media briefing scheduled for midnight local time.
Eyewitnesses described the horrifying scene, recounting how the SUV barreled through vendor stalls and crowds of festival-goers.
One witness told they heard screams and cries as people desperately tried to flee from the speeding vehicle.
Another festival attendee described the scene as “terrifying” and “chaotic.”
In a statement released Saturday evening, Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim expressed profound sorrow over the tragedy:
“We are shocked and deeply saddened by the horrific incident that occurred tonight at the Lapu Lapu Day event. Vancouver Police have confirmed multiple fatalities and injuries. Our thoughts and heartfelt sympathies are with all those affected and with Vancouverโs Filipino community during this incredibly difficult time.”
Authorities have not yet released the identity of the suspect.
However, sources have indicated that the individual has a history of mental health challenges and may have had prior interactions with law enforcement as recently as the day before the incident.
The Vancouver Police Departmentโs Major Crime Section is leading the investigation, and officials are working to determine the motive behind the attack.
Deana Lancaster, a spokesperson for Vancouver General Hospital โ the regionโs leading trauma center โ confirmed that multiple victims from the Lapu Lapu Day Festival were being treated at the facility.
The Vancouver Police Department is urging anyone who witnessed the incident or has video footage to come forward and assist in the ongoing investigation.
Further updates will be provided as additional information becomes available.
Crime
Tumbler Ridge Secondary School Shooter Jesse Van Rootselaar Created Mall Shooting Simulator in Roblox
Investigators and online researchers have identified a Roblox account allegedly linked to Jesse Van Rootselaar, the 18-year-old suspect in the deadly mass shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in British Columbia.
According to platform officials, the account was discovered by users on the internet forum Kiwi Farms, who reported that Van Rootselaar had created a game โ referred to on Roblox as an โexperienceโ โ that simulated a shooting inside a shopping mall.
The virtual environment appeared to resemble a Canadian retail complex, although it has not been confirmed whether the design was intended to replicate a specific real-world location.
Videos circulating on social media prior to its removal showed a player-controlled character collecting weapons and firing into crowds of animated civilians within the mall setting.
The footage quickly drew widespread concern given the seriousness of the real-world attack.
Roblox confirmed that the account belonged to the suspect and announced swift action in response.
โWe have removed the user account connected to this horrifying incident, as well as any content associated with the suspect,โ the company said in a statement. โWe are committed to fully supporting law enforcement in their investigation.โ
Initially, reports suggested the game remained accessible despite the account being deleted. However, Roblox later clarified that the content has now been removed from the platform.
The company also noted that the mall-themed experience was only accessible through Roblox Studio, a development application used by creators to build games, rather than through the main platform available to general users.
As a result, the experience reportedly recorded only seven visits, indicating extremely limited exposure.
Investigators are continuing to examine the suspectโs digital footprint, including online posts and usernames believed to match across multiple platforms such as Reddit, where references to Roblox activity were also reportedly found.
Van Rootselaar is accused of carrying out the February 10 shooting that left eight people dead and at least 25 others injured at the secondary school.
Authorities have not indicated whether the online content forms part of the official investigative findings, but technology platforms are increasingly scrutinized in the aftermath of violent incidents for potential warning signs.
Officials emphasize that the broader investigation remains active as law enforcement works to establish a complete timeline, understand possible motives, and determine whether any additional factors contributed to the tragedy.