World
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 Loโs 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 Loโs 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 motherโs 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 Loโs actions primarily to unresolved and severe mental health issues.
Authorities continue to piece together Loโs 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 Vancouverโs 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.
SAGAMU, Ogun State, Nigeria โ The Ogun State Police Command has confirmed that Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, the driver of the Lexus SUV involved in the fatal motor vehicle collision that injured British heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua and killed two passengers, has been formally charged in court.
Police officials stated that Kayode, 46, was arraigned on Thursday, January 2, 2026, before the Sagamu Magistrate Court, where he faces charges of reckless and dangerous driving.
The case has been adjourned until January 20, 2026, for further proceedings.
According to police, the crash occurred earlier in the week along the LagosโIbadan Expressway, a major highway in southwestern Nigeria.
The Lexus SUV was transporting Anthony Joshua and two of his close associates, Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami, when it collided with a stationary truck parked along the roadway.
Both Ayodele and Ghami sustained fatal injuries in the crash.
Police spokesperson Oluseyi Babaseyi confirmed that the defendant was granted bail in the sum of โฆ5 million (approximately $3,480 USD), with two sureties, and was remanded in custody pending the fulfillment of the bail conditions.
The Ogun State Police Command reiterated in a public update that the arraignment followed a comprehensive preliminary investigation into the circumstances of the collision.
Authorities emphasized that investigations remain ongoing.
Anthony Joshua, a former world heavyweight boxing champion, survived the crash but reportedly suffered significant emotional trauma as a result of the incident.
Ayodele and Ghami were described as long-time friends, training partners, and key members of Joshuaโs professional support team, regularly accompanying him before, during, and after major fights.
Ayodele was notably present ringside during Joshuaโs recent bout, where he was seen holding the Nigerian flag.
The remains of the two deceased men were transported to a mortuary in Sagamu.
Both were reported to be Muslims, and arrangements for burial in accordance with Islamic rites are pending. Officials have not yet confirmed when their bodies will be repatriated to the United Kingdom.
Authorities have also renewed calls for improved road safety enforcement, particularly concerning the illegal and prolonged parking of heavy-duty trucks along highways, which has been cited as a recurring hazard on Nigerian roads.
The Ogun State Police Command urged motorists to exercise caution, adhere strictly to speed limits, and ensure proper judgment when overtaking or maneuvering on highways.
Further updates are expected as the case proceeds through the court system.